Tim Stark of ‘Tiger King’ Ordered to Surrender Animals From ‘Wildlife in Need’
An Indiana judge has granted the state’s motion ordering roadside zoo owner Tim Stark to surrender all animals (excluding big cats) from Wildlife in Need (WIN) by September 18, pending the final outcome of the litigation charging Stark and WIN with charity fraud. This means the small exotic cats, primates, porcupines, foxes, wallabies, otters, bears, parrots, owls, and other animals relegated to his shoddy roadside zoo will soon be placed in new homes.
The new ruling omits big cats only because the process of finding new homes for the tigers, lions, and tiger/lion hybrids imprisoned at WIN was already secured per a federal court order that resulted from PETA’s successful Endangered Species Act lawsuit.
The Indiana judge also ordered Stark to ensure that all animals at WIN receive continued care prior to their removal, and he warned the Tiger King villain against further intimidating or threatening those involved in implementing the order—the latter of which was specified after Stark was filmed (below) outside a courtroom yelling at witnesses.
It’s been a rough few months for Stark—after years of PETA action, the infamous animal exploiter’s exhibitor’s license was permanently revoked last month, meaning that he can never again legally use frightened bear cubs, sloths, spider monkeys, or any other species regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in his cruel animal encounters. The good news came after he and WIN were assessed a total of $340,000 in civil penalties—$40,000 of which was assessed against him individually.
This is a warning to the entire big-cat cub-petting industry: Your days are numbered.
Find out how you can help PETA get animals out of the hands of other cruel exhibitors:
