In a since-deleted Facebook post, former-owner Jeff Lowe announced the Tiger King zoo will be permanently closed due to his license suspension. The park was first owned by Joseph Maldonado-Passage, commonly known as Joe Exotic, the star of the Netflix docuseries.
Lowe's deleted post had stated:
"The 'Tiger King' phenomenon has definitely changed our lives in many ways. It has brought us more attention than any human deserves, good and bad. It has, and probably will continue to make us a target of every nutjob and animal rights loon in the World, but we are prepared. It has also provided us with an unfathomable source of income. Income that will guarantee the long term care of our animals and allow us to be very selective going forward."
Lowe continued by mentioning in the post that due to the closure, he voluntarily forfeited his USDA exhibitor's license, resulting in a suspension of his license for 21 days:
"The very agency that has given my facility five consecutive perfect inspections, has now folded to the pressures of PETA and continue to make false accusations against me."
However, a USDA report indicates Lowe's license being suspended after an incident in July, which found multiple violations such as a broken refrigerator that is used to store the animals' food, in which zoo officials claimed to be fixed.
In an updated Facebook post, Lowe reiterated that the closure was voluntary and had been contemplating the closure with fellow workers at the zoo. The closure comes soon after a judge instructed Lowe to hand over park ownership to rival Carole Baskin.
