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Doc Antle
Bhagavan Antle | |
|---|---|
 Antle at Myrtle Beach Safari in 2020 | |
| Born | Kevin Antle March 16, 1960 Salinas, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Doc Antle |
| Occupation(s) | Animal trainer, zoo operator |
| Known for | Operator of the Myrtle Beach Safari |
| Spouses | Betsy "Brami" Rodgers
(divorced)Radha Hirsch (divorced)Dawn Thurston (died) |
| Children | 4 |
| Criminal details | |
| Conviction(s) |
|
| Penalty |
|
Bhagavan Mahamayavi "Doc" Antle[1] (born Kevin Antle; March 16, 1960), is an American animal trainer, roadside zoo operator, and felon convicted of wildlife trafficking.[2][3]
Antle began raising dogs in his youth,[4] and started operating a private zoo in 1983.[3][5] Antle has worked as an animal trainer for films including Ace Ventura and Dr. Doolittle in addition to appearing as a guest on several television shows.[6] In 2020, he was featured in the first season of Netflix true crime documentary series Tiger King. Antle was the subject of a follow-up documentary Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story released in December 2021.[7]
Antle has faced accusations of animal cruelty throughout his career. In 2020, Antle was charged with felony wildlife trafficking after an investigation by the Attorney General of Virginia.[8][9] After his conviction in 2023, he was fined $10,000 and banned from owning wildlife in Virginia for five years.[10][11] In 2022, Antle was arrested and charged by the FBI for wildlife trafficking and money laundering.[12][13] He pleaded guilty to the federal charges in November 2023 and faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.[14][15][16]
Antle has also faced public allegations of inappropriate relationships with minors at the private zoo in Buckingham County, Virginia, as well as operating a cult at the Myrtle Beach Safari location, claims that Antle denies.[17][18]
- ^ Henry, Grace (December 10, 2021), Who is Doc Antle and what is his real name?, Radio Times, retrieved December 12, 2021
- ^ Port, Ian S. (September 21, 2015). "The Man Who Made Animal Friends". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ a b Daly, Natasha (October 9, 2020). "'Tiger King' Star Doc Antle Charged with Wildlife Trafficking". National Geographic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jones, Isabel (April 2, 2020). "Tiger King's Doc Antle Was in These Movies, Shows & Music Videos". InStyle. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
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