Inside how exotic animal industry is fraught with ‘murder’, suicide & mystery – as Carole Baskin blasts ‘wretched’ zoos

TIGER King took Netflix by storm when it aired during Covid lockdowns, entertaining millions around the US with its wild claims of hitmen and murders.

But behind the scenes a number of the original cast of the hit show have faced personal setbacks which have since played out on a public stage.

APSam Mazzola choked to death on a sex toy[/caption]

AFPTerry Thompson released the animals he owned into Zanesville, Ohio, before killing himself[/caption]

APJoe Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison[/caption]

That’s led to suggestions that there is a curse of the Tiger King ahead of the show’s return for second series this month.

But for Carole Baskin it’s not just her co-stars in the doc who have suffered.

In fact she says other exotic animal owners not connected to the show have also been involved in bizarre plots and deaths.

Carole told The Sun: “It should be noted that the entire exotic animal industry has been fraught with murders, deaths and suicides.”

She added: “It’s just a wretched industry that Congress needs to stop by passing the Big Cat Public Safety act this session.”

Here The Sun looks at the wildest stories from inside the exotic animal business.

BEAR OWNER CHOKES ON SEX TOY

In 2011 Sam Mazzola, 49, choked to death on a sex toy.

The bear owner was found dead face down on his water bed at his home in Cleveland, according to reports at the time.

He had hit the headlines a year before his death after one of his bears mauled a 24-year-old woman to death.

Lorain County Chief Deputy Coroner Dr. Frank Miller said Mazzola had been chained to the bed at the time of his death with a sex toy in his throat.

Dr Miller told The Morning Journal: “He had done this by request according to the story we were given.”

The person who helped with the bondage is said to have left before his death.

“It was an unattended death,” Miller added.

EXECUTION STYLE KILLING

Former drug kingpin turned zoo owner Mario Tabraue appeared in Tiger King where he discussed his love of exotic animals.

His Zoological Wildlife foundation in Miami is said to be under 24 hour surveillance.

He told the show: “I sold drugs to maintain my animal habit.”

In 1981 his first wife Maria was shot dead execution style, according to reports.

Tabraue was acquitted of complicity in his wife’s death, which followed a domestic dispute.

The Miami Herald had reported the two were getting a divorce.

Eight years later Tabraue was sentenced to 100 years in federal prison on charges of racketeering and 13 narcotics counts.

The case was called ″Operation Cobra″ because Tabraue owned an exotic pet store and ranch, where he kept a giraffe, a cheetah and rare birds. He was arrested in December 1987.

Tabraue was released after only 12 years in 2000.

ZOO OWNER SHOOTS HIMSELF

In 2011 private zoo owner Terry Thompson released the animals he owned into Zanesville, Ohio, before killing himself.

The Vietnam vet was described as gun-crazed and was in the process of seperating from his wife, according to reports at the time.

He released bengal tiger, lions and leopards and was found with a bite wound on his head likely to have come from a big cat.

Police were forced to shoot dead more than 40 animals, reports said.

Wildlife expert Jack Hanna said at the time: “It’s like Noah wrecking his ark right here in Zanesville, Ohio.”

After the release schools were forced to close and families were told to stay inside their homes.

Thompson had already served jail time on weapons charges and was also convicted of animal cruelty in 2005.

MYSTERY DISAPPEARANCE

Carole Baskin – who runs the Big Cat Sanctuary in Florida – became an international star after the release of Tiger King.

That came after former zoo owner Joe Exotic attempted to have her killed, and raised questions about the disappearance of her second husband, Don Lewis.

In the show Joe suggested Carole murdered husband Don in 1997 before feeding him to the tigers at their Big Cat Sanctuary in Florida.

The millionaire car salesman — who had been refused a restraining order against Carole but continued to live with her — disappeared in August 1997.

His van was later found abandoned at an airfield, 40 miles from the couple’s wildlife sanctuary.

Carole firmly denies any involvement in his disappearance.

She claims Don had Mafia connections in Costa Rica where he owned another park but she believes he died in a plane crash over the Gulf of Mexico.

TIGER KING CAGED

As well as two charges of attempted murder for hire, over his plans to kill Carole, Exotic was convicted of 17 federal charges of animal abuse and jailed in 2019.

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison for 17 federal charges for animal abuse and an attempted murder-for-hire plot against his nemesis Baskin.

Earlier this year, the former zookeeper was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Joe has always maintained his innocence and Team Tiger, a group of lawyers and supporters, has been working behind the scenes for his release. 

STARS FOUND DEAD

Earlier this year, zookeeper Erik Cowie was found dead in his New York apartment, aged 53.

There was nothing suspicious about the death, sources told TMZ, and no drugs were found at the scene, but it is likely that a toxicology test will still be performed.

In the past, Erik – who worked at Joe’s zoo for eight years – has admitted to having a drinking problem but denied speculation he was a meth addict.

Earlier this year, he ran into legal trouble after being busted for a DUI in Oklahoma following a car accident.

However, he did not show up to his court appearance, which led to an arrest warrant being issued in May.

Reptile dealer Jeff Johnson passed away in September after he reportedly shot himself in front of his wife after the pair got into an argument.

According to TMZ, Jeff was immediately rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Jeff made a brief appearance in episode four of the first season of Tiger King, where he spoke to Carole Baskin.

CAR CRASH DEATH

Tiger King star Bhagavan ‘Doc’ Antle’s wife died in a car crash years before his appearance on the show.

Antle owned Myrtle Beach Safari, in South Carolina, which he ran with his three girlfriends and children for 37 years.

He said: “My wife died 25 years ago in a car crash here in Myrtle Beach. I’ve never been married since.”

In October last year, he was indicted on 15 charges including wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty related to his activity with lions.

Refer to CaptionCarole BaskinCarole Baskin – who runs the Big Cat Sanctuary in Florida – became an international star after the release of Tiger King[/caption]