Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, a prominent figure in the Netflix docuseries Tiger King, has been convicted on four felony counts related to the purchase and sale of endangered animals in Virginia. He was accused of illegally purchasing endangered lion cubs for display and profit at his South Carolina zoo.
Conviction
Antle was convicted on two felony counts each of wildlife trafficking and conspiring to wildlife traffic. He faces up to 20 years in prison and is set to be sentenced on September 14, 2023. Despite his convictions, he remains free on bond pending sentencing.
Acquittal
While Antle was convicted on four felony counts, he was acquitted of five counts of animal cruelty. Additionally, Judge Alexander Iden dismissed four additional animal cruelty charges against Antle and all charges against his two adult daughters.
Prosecution and Defense
Antle’s defense attorney, Erin Harrigan, argued that his prosecution was politically motivated in response to growing public outcry against wild animals being exploited for entertainment purposes. However, prosecutor Michelle Welch argued that Antle’s Myrtle Beach Safari’s petting zoo motivated him to maintain a steady supply of immature lion cubs, which he purchased from Wilson’s Wild Animal Park near Winchester, calling the arrangement a “cub pipeline” from Virginia to South Carolina.
Overall, Antle’s conviction highlights the issue of wildlife trafficking and the exploitation of endangered animals for profit and entertainment.