Key takeaways:
- Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, featured in the Netflix series “Tiger King”, has been convicted of wildlife trafficking in Virginia.
- The charges against Antle stem from an investigation conducted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
- The Attorney General’s Office has urged the public to report any suspected wildlife trafficking to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Antle is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2020.
A wild animal trainer featured in the popular Netflix series “Tiger King” has been convicted of wildlife trafficking in Virginia, the attorney general’s office announced Tuesday. Bhagavan “Doc” Antle was accused of illegally buying endangered lion cubs in Frederick County, Virginia, for display and profit at his South Carolina zoo, Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a news release.
A jury convicted Antle on Friday of two felony counts each of wildlife trafficking and conspiring to wildlife traffic. The jury acquitted Antle of five counts of animal cruelty and Judge Alexander Iden dismissed four additional animal cruelty charges.
The charges against Antle stem from an investigation conducted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. The investigation revealed that Antle had illegally purchased and transported endangered lion cubs from Virginia to South Carolina.
The Attorney General’s Office said that Antle’s conviction sends a strong message that wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated in Virginia. The office also urged the public to report any suspected wildlife trafficking to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Antle is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2020. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $2,500 fine for each of the two felony counts.
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