Tim Stanley

Tulsa World Reporter

An animal handler at a preserve for big cats in southeastern Oklahoma was killed over the weekend by one of the facility’s tigers.

Ryan Easley died Saturday in “an accident involving a tiger under his care,” Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said in a statement.

“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,” the preserve in Hugo said on its Facebook page . “Ryan was a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation. His love for animals, especially Big Cats, was evident in every aspect of his life.”

An online crowdfunding campaign set up to support Easley’s family had raised over $20,000 in under 48 hours. It indicated that Easley and

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