Myrtle Beach Safari’s Doc Antle, featured on ‘Tiger King,’ charged with animal cruelty

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A wild animal trainer featured in the popular Netflix series “Tiger King” has been indicted in Virginia on animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking charges.

Attorney General Mark Herring said Friday that a months-long investigation found that Bhagavan “Doc” Antle and the owner of a roadside zoo in Virginia trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina.

Antle owns the Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina. He also appeared in “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” a Netflix documentary miniseries that focused on tiger breeders.

Antle’s charges Thursday also include conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act. Antle could not immediately be reached for comment.