Joe Exotic originally known as Joseph Maldonado-Passage is an American zoo owner, who is currently serving jail time for animal abuse. He grew up in Kansas and later relocated to Florida where he discovered his passion for rearing exotic big cats.
Joe is the founder of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park based in Oklahoma. Here he bred exotic tiger cubs and he permitted guests to pay for petting. Joe’s success in rearing big cats prompted him to call himself, Tiger King. However, his feud with fellow zoo owner, Carole Baskin, the owner of Big Cat Rescue has resulted in numerous lawsuits and pointing of fingers. Additionally, Joe Exotic has featured in a Netflix series titled Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness.
Joe Exotic is Alive
The American zoo owner is alive and serving time in prison. Joe has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for animal abuse and murder for hire. According to multiple reports, Joe killed several old tigers in order to create space for new cubs. Furthermore, Joe is accused of animal brutality. An animal caretaker who worked at Joe’s animal Park claims that Joe used to beat tigers and whip during training. Joe is also accused of hiring a hitman for $ 10,000 to kill Carole Baskin, an animal activist.
Health Update
Despite being in a prison, there has not been any news concerning Joe Exotic’s health condition. However, before Joe came to Florida, he had sustained multiple injuries from a car accident. Nevertheless, he recovered from his injuries after undergoing physical rehabilitation. In recent times, there have been reports about Joe suffering from prostate cancer but the rumors are yet to confirm.
Age
Currently, Joe Exotic is 58 years old. He was born on March 5, 1963, in Kansas, United States. Joe is the son of Shirley and Francis Schreibvogel. Regarding his ethnicity, Joe is white and belongs to the Pisces zodiac sign.