Please do not promote Myrtle Beach Safari, an abusive petting zoo and constant violator of animal welfare regulations whose owner has just been indicted on 15 charges including cruelty to animals and wildlife trafficking. Now is your chance to see it, Has The Resident Been Renewed For Season 7? Then we got to watch them paint t-shirts that are sold for conservation efforts to save the chimpanzees! U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina, Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, and Employee Charged with Federal Money Laundering Crimes, antle-mahamayavi_et_al_complaint_unsealed.pdf, Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, and Employee Charged With Federal Money Laundering Crimes. Its silly s***.. However, as Antle pointed out, the show itself appears to discount the allegation when Paul Lewis, who accompanied Topping to Crabtree Falls, where he died, said that Toppings chance-taking ways were what led to his death. After meeting Bubbles, we got to hold some gibbons and a lemur!! Its all a joke: Myrtle Beach Safari owner gives take on upcoming Tiger King season, Tiger Kings latest docu-series will zoom in on Myrtle Beach Safaris Doc Antle, Who Is Kamie Crawford? Assistant U.S. Doc Antle has had Bubbles since she was a baby, and they have a pretty special bond. 2 in charge at his Virginia zoo, Mark Mitra Topping, off a cliff, where he fell to his death. What I didnt anticipate was getting up close and personal with wild animals. Please do your research on this place. Ive always dreamt of going on an African Safari, and someday I hope to make that dream come true. Wells Fargo Building Myrtle Beach Safari owner Mahamayavi Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. To date, the RSF has contributed more than $1 million (USD) to wildlife initiatives throughout the globe. Charleston:(843) 727-4381 Myrtle Beach Safari owner Mahamayavi Bhagavan Doc Antle. File/Provided Subscribe today! Antles tiger mill has been the source of immense cruelty to hundreds of tigers and must be shut down, Kitty Block, the organizations president and CEO, said in a statement, per The New York Times. Ligers used to be a myth, but a tiger mama and a lion father unintentionally mated here. Wetzel has won awards for sports column, feature and headline writing. All Rights Reserved. Sammut is the owner and operator of Vision Quest Ranch, a for-profit corporation that housed captive exotic species and sold tours and safari experiences to guests. ), has been indicted on animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking in Virginia, the states attorney general announced on Friday. A spokesperson for the FBI said that it cannot provide information on if the businesses are part of an investigation. An official website of the United States government. Please reconsider what you have written about MBS in the light of what you know now. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Keith and I had the best time and I just couldnt stop smiling! I have a lot of people writing me and saying that now they know I will go to jail for this murder of my friend who fell off of a cliff.. We also had the opportunity to hold and feed a couple of the tiger cubs and can I just say ADORABLE!! Columbia, SC 29201, Columbia:(803) 929-3000 I certainly do not rock climb. Derek Shoemake, Public Information Officer, U.S. Attorneys Office, derek.shoemake@usdoj.gov, (843) 327-0882, Main Office: The kid that narrates, he does a good job because hes a professional stage magician, but hes just a kid I hired when he was a teenager to do a couple blip jobs, Antle said of Diamond, whos featured prominently in the series. I could just pet this guy all day. All rights reserved. The episode focuses on staffing at big cat businesses and how long hours can lead some to become intimately involved with the owners. Clay is the owner and operator of the Franklin Drive Thru Safari, a for-profit corporation that housed captive exotic species and sold tours and safari experiences to guests. Bhagavan Doc Antle, the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, appeared in federal court Wednesday in Florence. The direct-to-end-user approach employed by the RSF places it among the worlds most effective conservation advocates and ensures the greatest value for every dollar spent. We did get to play with the cubs, but the daddies just walked around above our heads, for us to awe over. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. The Rare Species Fund (RSF) also established in 1983, is a grassroots organization that provides financial support and practical training to wildlife conservation initiatives in situ. Antle called The Doc Antle Story poorly done, though he thought the original Tiger King was well-done despite being what hes called entertainment and not a true documentary. According to the complaint, which was unsealed today in a federal courtroom in Florence, Antle is the owner and operator of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S), also known as the Myrtle Beach Safari. Charleston:(843) 727-4381 Attorneys Derek A. Shoemake and Amy Bower are prosecuting the case. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He was hanging around, but he narrates the show as if he has a personal relationship.. I have a lot of people writing me and saying that now they know I will go to jail for this murder of my friend who fell off of a cliff.. Sawyer and Bybee are Antles employees and business associates. "global": { Mahamayavi Bhagavan Doc Antle is the founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. There are others in the show who said Topping was owed tens of thousands of dollars and wanted out of the animal business, implying that perhaps that would be Antles motivation to kill him. Greenville:(864) 282-2100 That didnt happen, but the guy likes peaches. Thats like the whole ending moment. It was to tell a tale and almost everybody in there, pretty much every single person in there, except for, of course my first, second and third wives, every person in there hasnt spent a dozen hours with me, said Antle, who says hes suing Netflix over the original Tiger King series he was featured on. Thank you very much for your attention to this message. "Are You the One?" Antles Myrtle Beach Safari was searched by the State Law Enforcement Division in December 2019. Refresh Page Error: a1db0b0a4d764397a6fa91cc8e6c2771 Next up was my favorite part and that was getting to feed and hug Bubbles, the elephant! Antle also claims that the RSF has contributed more than $1 million to wildlife initiatives. The safari works in tandem with Antles Rare Species Fund (RSF), a grassroots organization that claims to work with state and federal authorities to develop conservation initiatives. After the cats were sent away, the wolf cubs were brought out. Sammut is the owner and operator of Vision Quest Ranch, a for-profit corporation that housed captive exotic species and sold tours and safari experiences to guests. Im so glad I heard about Myrtle Beach Safari and the TIGERS experience. are living examples of current worldwide environmental issues and are the best possible surrogates to help promote the importance of wildlife conservation and global biodiversity. Doc is very happy to be back at home and care for his animals, thats what its all about.. On Dec. 8, he simply posted a video of him smiling with Bubbles the elephant, encouraging people to visit Myrtle Beach Safari to meet this wonderful girl thats been hanging out with me for the past 38 years.. The filings allege that Antle had used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use checks, and that Antle planned to conceal the cash he received by inflating tourist numbers at the Myrtle Beach Safari. Just dont base all of your decisions from a TV show that was made to take down Joe Exotic. Accommodations are available for up to 20 guests in six rooms. Guests must be participating in an experience at the Myrtle Beach Safari to stay at the Safari Manor. This VIP lodging stay will include airport pickup, transportation to any Safari activities, and VIP tour check-in. Dallis' page also contains several photos that appear to show him interacting with the animals at Myrtle Beach Safari. Mahamayavi Bhagavan Doc Antle is the founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is the hope of Myrtle Beach Safari to continue to conserve tigers, lions, elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and many more species in their natural habitats. A lock ( An animal I wasnt expecting was a warthog! These guys look a lot like dogs, but bigger and more fierce. While the Fund does not limit its geographic footprint, its support has primarily focused on projects in South America, Africa, and Thailand. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - The owner of the Myrtle Beach Safari is now behind bars, according to online records. Everyone who told the truth was kicked to the wayside, Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari in Socastee, said of the Netflix docu-series casting. Only those who would take payment for their life stories got to be in the show. The animals involved included lemurs, cheetahs, and a chimpanzee. Over the years, he has more than 35 USDA violations for mistreating animals. He also said that many of the people interviewed in the original Tiger King and The Doc Antle Story he was barely featured in Tiger King 2 were portrayed as if they worked for him when that wasnt true. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Winds light and variable. The series ends with a very brief mention of serious charges Antle is facing in Virginia. We got to watch her eat an entire watermelon, drink, and we fed her carrots. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve in Myrtle Beach. In 2015, Antle told Rolling Stone that he breeds 10 to 15 new cubs every season to sustain operations, and that there are about 70 tigers on site that each eat $5,000 to $10,000 worth of food a year. The preserve has raised and trained more than four hundred big cats since its inception and is considered one of the premier private wildlife facilities in the world. Thats what you do. Follow him on Twitter at @nickmasudaphoto. Main Office: I never felt I needed to challenge a mountain. The prosecutors on the case are Assistant U.S. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. That case is scheduled for a trial later this year. You have permission to edit this article. Specifically, according to the complaint, Antle and Sawyer would launder the cash by providing checks from a business controlled by Antle and a business controlled by Sawyer. RANK. 1441 Main Street Suite 500 Also arrested Friday was William James Dallis. Antle has said he knows Joe Exotic through the industry, but balked at accusations that he had mistreated animals, describing it as sensationalism. The indictment alleges that Antle, at various times along with Bybee, Sammut and Clay, illegally trafficked wildlife in violation of federal law, including the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act, and made false records regarding that wildlife. Animals are bred and the owner is in a polygamist cult like relationship. The trainers clearly love the animals they work with, and we even learned some of the animal cubs actually sleep with their trainers. Read moreIrene Clodfelter pleads guilty to obstructing justice in husband's Myrtle Beach-area death, A Horry County parent has sued the school district in the wake of two school employees being arrested for allegedly committing and failing to report unlawful conduct against students. Myrtle Beach Safari owner Doc Antle believes season 2 of Netflix docu-series Tiger King will be salacious. I only wish more of the photos were in focus for nice clear pictures. Created by Meks. Ride-along: What does it take to run a Charleston food truck? ), a world-renowned 50-acre wildlife preserve located in South A follow up series called "The Doc Antle Story" focused on allegations that Antle participated in animal mistreatment, sexual abuse and violence. } } Doc Antle (left) and Omar Sawyer were arrested for money laundering. Hes magnificent! Made with @triller #triller pic.twitter.com/kYmWO1462M, Made with @triller #triller pic.twitter.com/kFqH6lCd3b. His credits include films like Ace Ventura, Dr. Doolittle, Mighty Joe Young, Disneys Jungle Book and many, many more. In addition to experiencing the animals, visitors get educated on the different species, as well as conservation. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve in Myrtle Beach. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It is the greatest story ever told that didnt happen. Official websites use .gov He called one of the staff members his little Italian girlfriend, and noted another staffer was one of my lovely girlfriends for a long time. As the series explores, Antle has a perturbing set of requirements to work at Myrtle Beach Safari, which has led to accusations of his zoo being a cult. An award-winning journalist, he has reported on all types of news, sports and features stories in over a decade as a member of the staff. Tiger King is by no means a documentary. Antle and Sawyer were previously granted a bond by a federal magistrate judge as a result of the charges in the federal complaint, and Bybee, Sammut and Clay are pending arraignment. Female recruits must be single and childless, and must be within 20 pounds of their perfect athletic weight or working to get there. In return, they live on the compound and get a small weekly stipend. Wells Fargo Building They run that story pretty good. According to the indictment and other court records, Antle is the owner and operator of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S), also known as the Myrtle Beach Safari. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve in Myrtle Beach. Sawyer and Bybee are Antles employees and business associates. Antle admitted at the time to having multiple relationships simultaneously, but pointed to being single as justification. "That's not a documentary,"Antle told The Post and Courier in March, describing the series as "quasi-fictional drama, more focused on shock value and titillation than fact.". Lock The cats had toys like your average household dog and cat, they loved to chew on. he was indicted in Virginia on 15 charges. My heart did race a little because after all, he is a wild cat! When we were planning our visit to Myrtle Beach, I was expecting a lot of miniature golf and beach time. Powered by WordPress. Unlike a zoo where all the animals are behind fences and barriers, the animals are brought right next to you, or even into your lap! They always show these pictures of these characters hugging tigers and feeding a monkey. Earlier this year Wilson was found guilty of 27 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. They now have Hercules, the 900 pound liger! Next on the agenda was to gather the group around a small pen where we played with tiger cubs, lion cubs and lynx cubs. (Bustle reached out to Antle for comment on the series, but has not received a response). York filed articles of organization with the South Carolina Secretary of States Office for Vali Co LLC and Sugriva Co LLC on June 8th and 10th. Because the animals are so comfortable around each other, Myrtle Beach Safari has the first ever Liger. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. I visited this location years ago (not a recent trip) and Im guessing you just got your information from the new Netflix series. By Laura Donaldson Several of Antles previous partners are featured in The Doc Antle Story, including Betsy Brahmi Rogers, his first wife, and Sumati Steinberg and Radha Hirsch, who both allege Antle began sexual relationships with them when they were as young as 14. The animals are taken from their moms when they are minutes old and once they get older they are put down, sold to other roadside zoos, or canned hunts. MBS is masquerading as a legitimate wildlife preserve and endangered species conservator but real wildlife preserves and endangered species conservators never allow public encounters or photo ops with wild animals; they never buy or sell wild animals; they never breed wild animals unless they are in an AZA-approved SSP program (which MBS is not); and they never cart wild animals to fairs or other venues for entertainment. Greenville:(864) 282-2100 FLORENCE, S.C. (WMBF) One of the stars of Netflixs Tiger King pleaded not guilty to several federal charges. Netflixs new three-episode docuseries, Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story, delves into the exotic animal zoo owners lifelong abuses of power, likening him to a cult leader and alleging through numerous testimonies that he has a history of abusing and manipulating people particularly young women. If you really take the time to roll it, the murder is so dang silly, Antle said. , Post and Courier, an Evening Post Publishing Newspaper Group. The latest charges against Antle and Sawyer carry up to 20 years in prison. I certainly dont have three wives," Antle said in March. Antle, 60, faces multiple felony counts, including one for wildlife trafficking and one for conspiracy to wildlife traffic; four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act; and nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Doc Antles son, Kody Antle, was introduced in Tiger King. A visit to this safari is not something I would be advertising on the internet. They were so soft and cuddly and I absolutely loved them! Two of Antles daughters, Tawny Antle and Tilakam Watterson, were also indicted on misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. This hidden gem will make your MB stay off the charts! Smothers had to receive eight rabies shots due to the bite. The charges are related to lion cubs transported from a Virginia facility, Wilsons Wild Animal Park, to Antles facility in Myrtle Beach, also known as The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.). The small city hosting Alex Murdaugh's trial is about to become a media circus. Dallis' charges have not yet been publicly announced. The T.I.G.E.R.S. The trainers are always there to help keep the cats moving so everyone gets a turn with each animal, and to make sure everyone is safe. Copyright 2014. 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