Joe Exotic (Maldonado) is now a breakout star and Carole Baskin may have killed her husband, but the tigers are still the ones suffering behind cages.
A long list of celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, have fueled popularity towards the Netflix Documentary, Tiger King. They have drawn in viewers to support Joe Exotic who they deem as “an innocent man.” On the other side of this cat fight is Carole Baskin. Joe and the rest of the world have come to describe her as a woman who, “killed her husband, whacked him.” Throughout the documentary you learn about the people who breed, exploit, and compete to be the ultimate Tiger King. In the end you learn that Joe is serving 22 years in prison, Carole has not been charged with any crimes, and that there about are 5,000 to 10,000 tigers living in capacity in the United States.
Yes, you read that right! About 5,000 to 10,000 tigers are living in capacity in the United States. Meanwhile fewer than 4,000 tigers remain in the wild. There are facts that are stated at the end of the documentary when Joe finally admits to depriving the animals of being animals. The focus finally returns to the suffering of exotic animals behind cages located in the backyard of Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
Is no one else baffled by that information? So, while Mike Tyson and many other celebrities brag about having bought tigers from Joe and use these animals as a way to elevate their status, Kim Kardashian is trying to prove that Carole Baskin killed her husband, all while Cardi B tries to free Joe Exotic. Just think about the truth no one seems to talk about.
People constantly disregard and destroy the environment wild animals live in. People capture and exploit animals for the source of entertainment. People willingly put themselves in contact with wild animals and expect no consequences.
The reason we’re in a pandemic and have had other viruses/disease circulate into our lives recently and throughout history is not because of the animals entering our lives. It’s because we invade their lives. People put animals in cages, expose themselves to an animal that they are never supposed to have contact with, and don’t fear any consequences.
Does that whole situation sound familiar after watching Tiger King? The documentary begins with the explanation of reptile dealers in South Florida and then transitions to a shot of a snow leopard in a cage in the back of a 100º van. In the end there is no explanation on what ever happened to the snow leopard. Did it ever go to a sanctuary or is it still in the backyard of a South Florida home? Just think how much better the world would be today if people had respect for wild animals and their environment.