'Tiger King' Zoo Has Closed Permanently To The Public, Jeff Lowe Confirms
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Featured Image Credit: Instagram/ Tiger King Park
Tiger King star Jeff Lowe has announced that the exotic animal zoo, formerly owned by Joe Exotic, has now closed.
Taking to the Facebook page of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park - once known as the G.W. Zoo - current owner Jeff said the zoo is shut off to the public "effective immediately".
He wrote: "The Tiger King phenomenon has definitely changed our lives in many ways.
"It has, and probably will continue to make us a target of every nut job and animal rights loon in the world, but we are prepared. As of today, we have decided to close the old zoo effective immediately."
Joe's nemesis Jeff added that he has now voluntarily given up his United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) exhibitor's license because the park has closed.
Hinting at why he was shutting the zoo, he alleged the USDA (United States Department Of Agriculture) had "folded to the pressures of PETA and continue to make false accusations against me".
"Suspiciously, less than 24 hours after I contacted the USDA to voluntarily forfeit my license, they notify me that they are suspending my license for 21 days for a litany of falsehoods," he went on.
"In the State of Oklahoma, exotic animal ownership is perfectly legal.
"Rest assured that all the animals will continue to have excellent care, and consequently will no longer be subject to USDA inspections or PETA spies."
Hinting this wasn't the last we'd see of him, his animals of Joe Exotic's old zoo, he added: "Our new park will, at least for the foreseeable future, be a private film set for Tiger King related television content for cable and streaming services.
"This was in fact a decision that we made more than a month ago and was the huge news that we spoke about on Facebook a couple weeks ago.
"So, thanks to all the people who have visited the Wynnewood Zoo over the years! We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
"Effective immediately, we are closed to the public!"
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The news comes after Joe Exotic's enemy Carole Baskin, an animal rights advocate and owner of rival park Big Cat Rescue, was given ownership of the zoo by a federal judge in Oklahoma.
Lowe will instead be moving to a new roadside zoo in Thackerville, Oklahoma - but after forfeiting his license he will not be able to open it for public viewing.
With just 120 days to vacate the former property for good, Lowe said: "I expected it a year ago. We knew that the writing was on the wall."
Meanwhile, Joe Exotic called the ruling a "treachery that has to be challenged".
Topics: Tiger King, Life News, Joe Exotic, TV News
