“The Lowes have showed a shocking disregard for both the health and welfare of their animals, as well as the law.”

New owners of the Oklahoma zoo – featured in the Netflix documentary, Tiger King – have been ordered to surrender all tiger cubs and their mothers to the federal government.

The ruling comes against Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe, who were reportedly found violating the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act.

According to the court, two tiger cubs died less than a week apart because of a failure by the pair to provide proper nutrition and veterinary care.

The couple is now supposed to surrender all big cat cubs under the age of one year and their mothers, and to provide records for all animals acquired or disposed of since June 2020.

The Lowes appeal that they are not “exhibitors” under the Animal Welfare Act as the zoo was still under construction was rejected by US district judge John F Heil III. in court.

‘Shocking disregard’

Acting assistant attorney general Jonathan D Brightbill of the justice department’s environment and natural resources division said: “The Lowes have showed a shocking disregard for both the health and welfare of their animals, as well as the law.”

Jeffrey Lowe is the former business partner of Joseph Maldonado-Passage – also known as Joe Exotic, star of the controversial Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness show.

Maldonado-Passage is serving a 22-year sentence in Fort Worth, Texas, for his involvement in a contract killing case and animal exploitation.

According to reports, Exotic has formally requested a pardon from outgoing US president Donald Trump

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