Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, known for his role in the hit Netflix series Tiger King, has been sentenced to prison after admitting he broke the law. The 65-year-old zoo owner from South Carolina was found guilty of buying endangered animals and laundering money to support his exotic animal business.
Who is Doc Antle?
Doc Antle became famous through Tiger King, a Netflix documentary that aired during the COVID-19 lockdown. He appeared alongside Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, two other well-known figures in the world of exotic animals. While the show focused on their wild rivalries, Antle was seen more as an animal lover. However, things were different behind the scenes.
What Did Antle Do Wrong?
Antle admitted in court that he illegally bought and sold animals like lions, tigers, cheetahs, chimpanzees, and other endangered species. These animals are protected by law and cannot be traded without proper documents. Prosecutors said he used money from a human smuggling operation to quickly pay for these expensive animals. He was part of a black market trade, which fuels poaching in the wild.
Federal prosecutors explained that Antle knew what he was doing was illegal. He used tricks to avoid getting caught, such as pretending animals were being donated to his wildlife foundation or saying they wouldn’t be moved across state lines. In reality, they were sent to his Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina.
What Was His Sentence?
Antle was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and fined $55,000. Although federal guidelines suggested he should get two years in jail, the judge gave him a lighter sentence after hearing from friends and family. About 25 people came to support Antle in court. They described him as a kind and passionate man who had helped save many animals from extinction.
Antle also apologised in court, saying he had made mistakes and hoped to continue his work with animals in the future.
Why Did Antle Want So Many Animals?
Antle’s zoo, Myrtle Beach Safari, is known for giving visitors a chance to get close to exotic baby animals. People would pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for pictures, petting sessions, or overnight stays with animals like baby chimps and tigers. The younger the animals, the more money they brought in. But once the animals grew too big, they were no longer safe for close human contact.
Antle’s zoo still operates but now takes visitors only by reservation.
What Did Investigators Find?
The FBI tapped Antle’s phone and heard him talking about needing large amounts of cash to buy baby animals. He said a chimpanzee could cost up to $200,000 and that some sellers only accepted cash, not cheques. Through their investigation, the FBI learned Antle laundered over $500,000 to hide where the money came from and used it to buy more animals.
As part of his punishment, Antle has to give up three chimpanzees he purchased illegally.
Others Involved Also Punished
Antle wasn’t the only one punished. Two of his employees also received sentences. Meredith Bybee was given probation for selling a chimpanzee, and Andrew “Omar” Sawyer got two years of probation for helping Antle with money laundering. A Texas zoo owner, Jason Clay, received a four-month prison sentence for selling a primate, while another man, Charles Sammut from California, had his charges dropped.
Doc Antle, once seen as a hero in wildlife conservation, now faces prison time for breaking the very laws meant to protect those animals. His actions show how illegal animal trading can cause serious harm to endangered species. While many believed he loved his animals, his choices put profits above their protection. With this case closing, it’s a reminder that protecting wildlife means following the law — no matter how big or small your zoo is.
