The Tragic End Of Ryan Easley: What Happened To The 'Tiger King' Associate At Growler Pines?

The shocking and tragic death of Ryan Easley, an animal handler with direct ties to the infamous world of Netflix's *Tiger King*, remains a stark reminder of the inherent dangers within the captive big cat industry. As of today, December 19, 2025, the story of Easley's final moments has cemented his place as one of the most tragic figures connected to the Oklahoma exotic animal scene, which was largely made famous by Joe Exotic. His death on September 20, 2023, brought a sudden end to his career and led to the immediate closure of his own controversial roadside zoo. Easley, who was also known by the name Ryan Holder, was the owner and operator of the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Oklahoma. His fatal encounter with one of his own tigers occurred during a performance show, reportedly in front of his wife and daughter, highlighting the devastating personal cost of the big cat trade. The incident sparked immediate and intense reactions from animal rights groups like PETA, as well as from his former associate, Joe Exotic himself.

Ryan Easley: Biography and Timeline of a Big Cat Handler

Ryan Easley’s life was deeply intertwined with the world of exotic animals, a path that ultimately led him into the orbit of the most notorious figures in the industry. While he was not a main character in the original *Tiger King* documentary, his connections and business practices placed him firmly within the ecosystem of Oklahoma's roadside zoos.

• Full Name: Ryan Easley (also known as Ryan Holder)
• Age at Death: 37 years old
• Date of Death: September 20, 2023
• Location of Death: Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, Hugo, Oklahoma (Choctaw County)
• Cause of Death: Fatally mauled by a tiger under his care during a performance.
• Career: Animal handler, big cat show exhibitor, former circus exhibitor.
• Business Ventures: Owner and operator of ShowMe Tigers (a traveling big cat act) and later the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve.
• Notable Associations: Directly linked to *Tiger King* star Joe Exotic (Joe Maldonado-Passage) and Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. Easley reportedly acquired tigers for his operation from both figures.

Easley’s career was a continuation of the traditional roadside zoo model, where big cats were kept for public display and performances. His facility, Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, was located near the Texas border and was one of many such operations in the region that drew criticism from animal welfare organizations.

The Fatal Incident at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve

The tragic event that ended Ryan Easley's life occurred on a Saturday at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve. The facility, which Easley owned and operated, was hosting a performance show—a common practice in the world of big cat exhibitionism that involves close-contact interaction between handlers and the animals.

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According to reports from local authorities in Choctaw County, Oklahoma, deputies were called to the scene after receiving a report of a tiger attack. Easley was pronounced dead upon their arrival. The attack was swift and brutal, and it happened as the show was concluding, with onlookers—including his immediate family—present. This detail underscores the shocking and immediate danger that big cat handlers face, even with animals they have raised and worked with for years.

The specific injuries sustained by Easley were made public in the medical examiner's report, confirming that the cause of death was a fatal mauling by the tiger. The tiger involved in the incident was reportedly shot and killed by another employee at the preserve immediately following the attack to prevent further tragedy. This tragic sequence of events brought the dark side of the exotic animal trade into the national spotlight once again, echoing the themes and dangers explored in the *Tiger King* series.

The Aftermath: Closure, Controversy, and the PETA Response

The death of Ryan Easley had immediate and lasting consequences for the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve and reignited the debate over the ethics of private big cat ownership and exhibition.

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The Fate of Growler Pines Tiger Preserve

Within weeks of the tragedy, the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve announced its permanent closure. The facility, which had operated as a roadside zoo and performance venue, stated that the loss of its owner and operator made it impossible to continue. This closure meant that the surviving big cats and other exotic animals at the preserve would need to be relocated. Animal welfare organizations and federal agencies became involved in the process of ensuring the animals were moved to accredited sanctuaries, rather than being sold back into the private trade.

Reactions from Joe Exotic and Doc Antle

Ryan Easley’s connections to the central figures of *Tiger King* ensured that his death would not go unnoticed by them. Easley was known to have acquired big cats from both Joe Exotic's Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park and Bhagavan "Doc" Antle's Myrtle Beach Safari for his own traveling shows (ShowMe Tigers) and later his preserve. Joe Exotic, who remains incarcerated, issued a statement through his legal team expressing condolences but also using the event to criticize the industry's lack of regulation and his own perceived persecution.

PETA’s Strong Condemnation of Roadside Zoos

The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a strong and immediate condemnation following Easley’s death. PETA highlighted Easley's history as a former circus exhibitor and his alleged association with Joe Exotic as evidence of a pattern of negligence and exploitation within the exotic animal world. PETA's statement was not a personal attack on Easley but rather a broader call to action, urging federal authorities to enforce the Captive Wildlife Safety Act and to shut down all remaining roadside zoos, which they refer to as "self-serving hellholes."

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The organization emphasized that tragedies like this are inevitable when dangerous, wild animals—such as tigers, lions, and leopards—are kept in inadequate conditions and used for entertainment, where their natural instincts are suppressed but never truly extinguished. PETA's senior director of captive wildlife argued that the only humane solution is to prohibit the private possession of big cats entirely, a sentiment that has gained momentum since the popularity of the *Tiger King* series.

The Deeper Context: Why the 'Tiger King' World is Still Dangerous

Ryan Easley’s death serves as a grim final chapter for a man who lived and died within the high-risk, low-regulation world of big cat exhibitionism. His story is a powerful illustration of several key issues surrounding the captive wildlife trade in the United States, particularly in states like Oklahoma, which have historically been lenient on exotic animal ownership.

The incident highlighted the following critical entities and concerns:

• The Big Cat Public Safety Act: This federal legislation, which aims to phase out private ownership and public interaction with big cats, was passed to prevent exactly this kind of tragedy. Easley's death occurred as the industry was grappling with the new law's implementation.
• Ethical Tourism and Animal Exploitation: Easley’s business model relied on public shows and interactions, a practice that animal welfare groups consider exploitative and dangerous. The pursuit of profit through "ethical tourism" in this context is often a contradiction.
• The Hidden Risks for Handlers: Even experienced handlers like Easley, who had worked with big cats for years, are vulnerable to the animals' innate predatory instincts. The tragedy serves as a perennial warning to all those who attempt to dominate or domesticate apex predators.
• The Legacy of Joe Exotic: The fact that Easley acquired animals from Joe Exotic and Doc Antle links his operation directly to the controversial, interconnected network of breeders and exhibitors that the *Tiger King* documentary exposed to a global audience.

Ryan Easley, the 37-year-old animal handler and associate of the *Tiger King* figures, is now part of the dark legacy of the American exotic animal trade. His death on September 20, 2023, was not just a personal tragedy for his family but a significant moment that further fueled the ongoing legal and ethical battles over the future of big cats in captivity.

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