Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park

Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park LLC
Date opened 2016
Location Wynnewood, Oklahoma
Coordinates 34°37′32.33″N 97°12′40.03″W / 34.6256472°N 97.2111194°W / 34.6256472; -97.2111194
Land area 16 acres (6.5 ha)
No. of animals 700
No. of species 50

The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is a park displaying animals in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. It was purchased and re-opened by Jeff Lowe, a South Carolina businessman, in February of 2016. He holds a USDA license which allows him to exhibit these creatures.

Establishment and history

The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is situated on 16 acres (6.5 ha) and began as a shelter for endangered and exotic species of animals. It currently houses and cares for over 50 species of animals and over 200 big cats, such as tigers, lions, puma, ligers and tigons. In total, the park has approximately 700 animals under its care and shelter during the year.

The park itself offers tours and educational programs for visitors everyday at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. The park is open everyday from 9 am to 6 pm. The park has been visited by people from all fifty states, along with international visitors from over two hundred countries.

Before Lowe purchased the zoo and took control away from a man known as Joe Exotic (Joe Schreibvogel.) Mr. Schreibvogel who also goes by the name Joseph Maldonado Passage, between February and June 2006 PETA had an investigator pose as a G.W. Exotic Animal Foundation employee.[1] The group subsequently released footage.[2] PETA alleged that animals were starved and "routinely hit, punched, kicked, sprayed with cold water, and struck with rakes and shovels."[3][4]

In 2012, the Humane Society of the United States released video taken by an undercover investigator. It included footage of a tiger being dragged across gravel, big cats being hit and Schreibvogel instructing staff to smack cubs to make them walk.[5][6] HSUS claimed that 5 tigers died during their investigation, one of which did not receive veterinary care.[6]

In May 2014, the USDA cited Joe Exotic for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. According to officials, an injured bear's wound reopened and an employee attempted to stitch it. The injury became subsequently worse and the bear was euthanized.[7] In September 2018, Schriebvogel was indicted and arrested by the FBI for attempting to hire someone to murder Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue. [8]

The park is licensed by the State of Oklahoma as a rendering facility.[9] President Joe Schreibvogel uses the stage name Joe Exotic at offsite appearances in a show entitled "Mystical Magic of the Endangered" at which he displays baby wild animals.

It was announced on September 26, 2018 that the new owner of the zoo, Jeff Lowe, would be closing the zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma and moving the animals to a new location near Thackerville, OK. There are no definitive dates stated for the closure. Jeff Lowe is attempting to distance the zoo from Joseph Schriebvogel (Joe Exotic) in an attempt to move forward after Schriebvogel's arrest on murder-for-hire charges.

Location

The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is located between Oklahoma City and Dallas at Exit 64 on Interstate 35.

References

  1. ↑ Surette, Rusty (January 11, 2011). "PETA Allegedly Paid Man To 'Spy, Download Information' From Exotic Animal Park". Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Misery and Cruelty at G.W. Exotic Animals Memorial Park in Oklahoma: A PETA Investigation". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park Investigator's Log—Neglect". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Oklahoma Pseudo-Sanctuary: Shelter From Danger or Dangerous Shelter?". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Alleged abuse at GW Memorial Park seen on tape". May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "'If they walk in here and take my animals away, it's going to be a small Waco':Joe Exotics pledge after being accused". May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "G.W. Interactive Zoological Park under fire for alleged animal mistreatment". May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ https://newsok.com/article/5607480/joe-exotic-former-oklahoma-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-accused-in-murder-for-hire-plot
  9. ↑ "Rendering Licenses" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
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