An animal handler was killed by a tiger under his care at a preserve for big cats in southeastern Oklahoma, the organization said Sunday.<\/p>\n
Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said in a statement that Ryan Easley died Saturday in “an accident” involving a tiger at the property near Hugo, not far from the Texas border. Easley was not breathing when deputies arrived, KXII-TV reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n “This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world,” the preserve said on its Facebook page<\/a>. “Ryan understood those risks – not out of recklessness but out of love. The animals under his care were not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with – one rooted in respect, daily care and love.”<\/p>\n All tours have been canceled until further notice, the statement said.<\/p>\n The preserve is a private facility where visitors can book tours to view tigers and see demonstrations on how the animals are trained and cared for, according to its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a statement<\/a>, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said Easley acquired his tigers from Joseph Maldonado, better known as Joe Exotic<\/a>, and Bhagavan “Doc” Antle<\/a>, who both starred in the Netflix series “Tiger King.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “Prayers go out to his family,” Maldonado said in since-removed posts on social media, the Oklahoman reported<\/a>. “Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants.”<\/p>\n A GoFundMe launched for Easley’s family had raised over $18,000.<\/p>\n