Bhagavan “Doc” Antle Convicted on Multiple Counts of Wildlife Trafficking

Summary:

In Richmond, Virginia, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle – known for his appearance on Netflix’s “Tiger King” – was convicted last week on two felony counts of wildlife trafficking and two felony counts of conspiring to wildlife traffic.

He had been accused of illegally purchasing endangered lion cubs in Frederick County, Virginia, for display and profit at his zoo, Myrtle Beach Safari, in South Carolina.

The jury acquitted Antle of five counts of animal cruelty and the judge dismissed four additional animal cruelty charges against Antle and all charges against his two adult daughters.

The prosecutor said Myrtle Beach Safari’s lucrative petting zoo motivated Antle to maintain a steady supply of immature lion cubs that he purchased from Wilson’s Wild Animal Park near Winchester, calling the arrangement a “cub pipeline” from Virginia to South Carolina.

Action take by Born Free USA:

Notes: