Tiger King: Carole Baskin awarded Joe Exotic's US zoo in feud lawsuit
Carole Baskin, whose longstanding feud with Joe Exotic was chronicled in the hit Netflix docuseries "Tiger King," has been awarded the zoo once owned by her nemesis.
An Oklahoma judge ruled in favour of Baskin's Big Cat Rescue Corporation Monday in its lawsuit against the Greater Wynnewood Development Group, LLC, (GWDC).
The latter company once was owned by Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage.
Big Cat Rescue Corporation's Carole Baskin has been awarded the zoo once owned by her nemesis, Joe Exotic. Netflix
The order gives Baskin control of about six hectares of land in Garvin County, Oklahoma, that is home to an animal park with an array of big cats
GWDC must "vacate the Zoo Land premises within 120 days of service of this Order...Vacation of premises shall also require removal of all zoo animals from the Zoo Land," the court order said.
The judgment also awarded several cabins and vehicles to Baskin, according to court records.
Baskin, who owns an animal sanctuary in Florida, has for years been a vocal critic of Maldonado-Passage's animal park, a feud that escalated into a court battle .
Baskin has for years been a vocal critic of Exotic's animal park, arguing that he was abusing his animals and crusaded against his use of tigers for profit. AP
Exotic argued that Baskin was trying to destroy his business with an online smear campaign in videos she posted to her YouTube page and social media channels.
Meanwhile, Baskin argued that Exotic was abusing his animals and crusaded against his use of tigers for profit.
Exotic was convicted last year in a murder for hire plot against Baskin and is serving a 22-year sentence for the hit attempt and other crimes that include animal abuse.
The highly-publicised feud is the focus of Netflix's popular 'Tiger King' series. Netflix
Court documents allege he tried to pay a hit man USD$3000 ($4406) to kill Baskin and also that he shot and killed five tigers, sold baby lemurs and falsified paperwork to say they were donated.
An attorney for Jeff Lowe, the current owner of Exotic's park, told CNN the judgment handed down today was not unexpected.
"We anticipated Carole Baskin getting the title to the former park that once belonged to Joe Exotic, and we did not challenge her attempts to do so," Mosley said Monday.
"All of Jeff's focus is on opening the new Tiger King Park in Thackerville, (Oklahoma), which should be opening in the next 120 days."
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