On Saturday, Sept. 20, a tiger handler in Oklahoma was mauled and killed by one of the big cats under his care. The incident brought comments from several corners, including groups that have long opposed using animals for entertainment. It’s an interesting example of a crisis turning into an issues-management war of words.

Ryan Easley was killed during a show at his Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo. The facility announced his death in a statement on Facebook. “Ryan was a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation,” it wrote. “His love for animals, especially Big Cats, was evident in every aspect of his life. He dedicated his life to the protection and care of these magnificent animals, and he believed deeply in the mission of Growler Pines — to provide a safe and forever enriching home for the animals under his care.”

Growler Pines canceled all tours until further notice.

There’s a lot of context to this crisis. Easley (pictured) is allegedly connected to Joe Maldonado, also known as Joe Exotic, the former zookeeper serving a 21-year prison sentence for violating wildlife laws and for a murder-for-hire scheme against a rival. Maldonado was featured in the Netflix series Tiger King. Easley got his tigers from Joe Exotic, according to the animal-rights groups. The alleged connection is one reason his death is getting a lot of coverage.

Tigers, Elephants

Maldonado himself put out statements on the tragedy. “Prayers go out to his family,” he wrote on Instagram and Facebook, according to The Oklahoman. “Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone [sic] of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants.”

In another Facebook post, Maldonado blasted CNN for its headline “Tiger Kills Oklahoma Trainer Linked to ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic”: “CNN drags me into this story to make a headline worth reading and I had nothing to do with this dude other than 18 years ago I let him keep his tigers at my zoo for one winter.”

Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society, posted a press release about the incident, which it called “a sad and preventable tragedy.” It said that its 2017 investigation of Easley’s traveling act, ShowMe Tigers, exposed “violent training” and that Easley acquired young tigers from “infamous roadside-zoo operators” Maldonado and Bhagavan “Doc” Antle.

“Easley’s death and a string of other deaths and injuries demonstrate how dangerous it is to keep tigers and other big cats in captivity for entertainment,” it wrote. “The animals suffer, too.”

Blistering Statement

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) issued a press release Sunday, decrying Easley’s treatment of the animals and asserting that he got his from Maldonado. It included a blistering statement from PETA Foundation Senior Director of Captive Wildlife Debbie Metzler:

“It’s never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and it’s never a surprise when a human is attacked by a stressed big cat who has been caged, whipped and denied everything natural and important to them. PETA is calling for the remaining wild-animal exhibitors who aren’t dead or in federal prison to get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace.”

The lessons for crisis communicators? Well, most probably aren’t — or don’t represent — tiger trainers. But the episode shows that your crisis might invite strident commentary from those opposed to your activities. It is best to be prepared to respond.

Photo Credit: Growler Pines Tiger Preserve via Facebook

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