Tiger King’s ‘Doc’ Antle, others charged in Virginia with wildlife trafficking, animal cruelty

One of the stars of Netflix’s “Tiger King” is facing wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty charges after a months-long investigation by the Virginia Attorney General’s office, according to a news release.

Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, is accused of trafficking lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina, according to the release from Attorney General Mark Herring’s office.

Antle, who appeared in the popular series, has been charged with two felony counts relating to wildlife trafficking, four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act and nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Keith A. Wilson, who owns a roadside zoo in Winchester called Wilson’s Wild Animal Park, faces similar charges.

The Animal Law Unit of Herring’s office spent months investigating the relationship between Antle and Wilson, according to the release. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency executed a search warrant on Antle’s South Carolina property in December.

Two of Antle’s daughters, Tawny Antle and Tilakum Watterson, have also been charged with misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and violating the Endangered Species Act.

All of the charges were filed by a grand jury in Frederick County.

Wilson and his nephew, Christian Dall’Acqua, were previously indicted on 46 counts of animal cruelty in November. A trial is set for June 2021.

Last August, the attorney general’s office secured custody of 119 animals seized from Wilson’s “roadside zoo” according to the release. The animals seized included lions, tigers, bears, camels, goats, water buffalo and others, according to the release.

Robyn Sidersky, 757-222-5117, robyn.sidersky@pilotonline.com

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