Carole Baskin granted control of Tiger King Joe Exotic’s old zoo

Tiger King star Joe Exotic’s “nemesis”, Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin, has been granted control of his former zoo by a federal judge.

2 min read

June 3, 2020 - 7:13AM

A federal judge has granted Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin control of the zoo formerly operated by Tiger King star Joseph Maldonado-Passage, better known as “Joe Exotic”.

The GW Exotic Animal Memorial Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma has been under the control of Jeff Lowe in recent years, but is now being handed over to Baskin – Exotic’s “nemesis”, who he was found guilty last year of paying a hitman $3000 to kill.

Exotic is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for the foiled murder-for-hire plot, as well as charges for violating both the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and the Endangered Species Act.

Judge Scott Palk found that the property was fraudulently transferred to the disgraced zookeeper’s mother, Shirley M Schriebvogel, years ago, in an attempt to shield it from a $1 million settlement owed to Baskin’s Big Cat Rescue corporation in a trademark infringement.

Tiger King star Joe Exotic’s ‘nemesis’, Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin, has been granted control of his former zoo by a federal judge. Picture: Instagram

“Schriebvogel later admitted under oath that the zoo land was transferred to her by Joe Maldonado to remove it from the reach of creditors, including BCR, should BCR win its Flroida lawsuit,” Big Cat Rescue’s complaint said, according to the Courthouse News Service.

Ms Schriebvogel allegedly admitted in 2015 that “the zoo was fraudulently transferred to her by Joe Maldonado in 2011 to avoid his creditors”.

The judge gave Mr Lowe 120 days to vacate the property – including all of the animals currently residing there, according to a copy of the ruling.

“We have long anticipated that the judge would eventually undo the 2016 land transfer,” Mr Lowe and his wife Lauren told TMZ.

“We are thankful that he dragged out his decision this long and allowed us time to complete the new Tiger King Park in Thackerville Oklahoma, behind the world’s largest casino.”

Portable buildings and vehicles on the land will be handed over to Baskin, and the transfer of the title of the zoo has been ordered.

“Considering (Carole) spent approximately $2.5 million chasing her $1 million judgment, we congratulate her on her new acquisition of 16 acres in rural Oklahoma,” the couple said.

“The possibility of human remains being buried on this land should make her feel right at home.”

Exotic is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for paying a hitman $3000 to kill Baskin. Picture: Supplied/Netflix

Last month, Baskin and her husband Howard expressed their disappointment over the Tiger King documentary to the Tampa Bay Times. Baskin claimed she thought the show’s focus would be on the abuses in the big-cat trade – not her personal drama with Joe Exotic.

“I just feel so angry that people have totally missed the point,” Baskin said.

“And the point is these cubs are being abused and exploited and the public is enabling that.”

In a blog post on the Big Cat Rescue’s Facebook page, Baskin wrote: “There are not words for how disappointing it is to see that the series … had the sole goal of being as salacious and sensational as possible to draw viewers.”

Meanwhile, casting for a number of Tiger King feature films and series are well under way, with Sharknado actor Tara Reid being considered for the role of Carol Baskin. Nicolas Cage will star in a CBS adaptation as Joe Exotic.