Human remains were thought to be found at the Oklahoma zoo linked to Joe Exotic of the Netflix show “Tiger King,” prompting local and state police to respond, KOCO-TV reports.
A production crew filming at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park on Friday were reportedly using cadaver dogs while recording an episode of “Ghost Adventures” when the dogs appeared to pick up on a scent of human remains in an alligator pit.
That brought Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents and Garvin County Sheriff’s deputies to the private facility to investigate, according to Jeff Lowe, who currently operates the zoo.
Turns out, what the dogs detected belonged to a small animal.
“!!EXOTIC UPDATE!! The Garvin County Sheriff says no human remains were found on-site at the GW Zoo tonight. Instead … a small animal. He says the investigation is over,” KFOR-TV reporter Taylor Adams tweeted late Friday night.
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The incident raised concerns because “Joe Exotic,” whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was convicted last year of conspiring to kill his animal rights activist and Baskin’s chief rival Carole Baskin, and killing tigers and selling their cubs.
Baskin’s organization, Big Cat Rescue, is set to take control of the zoo after a federal judge on June 1 ruled that Maldonado-Passage’s mother had obtained the facility years ago through fraudulent transfer so her son could dodge a $1 million trademark judgment to be paid to Baskin.
Animals must be removed from the facility within 120 days under the court order, according to the television station.
Authorities are also investigating the zoo after photos surfaced showing animals allegedly neglected and injured.
Meanwhile, the state of Oklahoma is suing Lowe for at least $50,000 in unpaid sales taxes.
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