A man was killed by a tiger at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Oklahoma, on September 20, 2025. KXII/Growler Pines Tiger Preserve

A tiger handler linked to “Tiger King” Joe Exotic was killed Saturday by one of the big cats at the Oklahoma preserve where he worked, according to the facility.

Ryan Easley “lost his life in an accident involving a tiger under his care,” the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said in a statement posted to Facebook.

“This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world. Ryan understood those risks — not out of recklessness but out of love,” it said.

Describing Easley as “a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation,” Growler Pines said he had dedicated his life to protecting and caring for big cats.

The Hugo,

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