Meet the Animals Who Survived the Tiger King

Animal abuse is the conversation we’re having here. The story behind "Tiger King" Joe Exotic and the infamous G.W. Zoo became an international conversation recently — a conversation that often failed to address the real abuse faced by the animals.

Animal Planet was given exclusive access to the G.W. Zoo while filming Wolves and Warriors in 2018. In addition to the never before seen interview with Joe Exotic, this footage tells the stories of animals who were caught in the crossfire of Joe Exotic’s big cat breeding business and the heartwarming stories of those that found new homes after the G.W. Zoo.

Audiences will hear from rescue leaders, exotic animal experts, and ex-employees. Animal Planet sits down with former staff members who worked side-by-side with Joe; including former employee Gaylynn Eastwood and former manager Saff Saffery, who lost an arm to one of Joe’s tigers. Most importantly, viewers will follow the touching and inspiring journeys of the animals who survived from under the direct care of Joe Exotic.

We’ll meet Kryxis and Kadira, two visually impaired tiger littermates whose vision was restored after their rescue from the G.W. Zoo through surgery at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana. Viewers will also meet Chobe and Kariba, two lions found traumatized by the pain of inbreeding and spending their lifetimes in a small enclosure, who are relocated to Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary in Oregon.

Now is the time to have a conversation about the endless cycle of neglect and mistreatment that exists in the world of big cat and exotics trade.

SURVIVING JOE EXOTIC premieres on Animal Planet Saturday, July 25 at 10P ET/PT.

In addition to watching the documentary special on Animal Planet, viewers can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #SurvivingJoeExotic and following ANIMAL PLANET on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.