‘Tiger King’ superstar and zookeeper Erik Cowie unnecessary at 53
Erik Cowie, the zookeeper of Netflix’s zany animal documentary series “Tiger King,” has died at 53.
Authorities came upon Cowie’s physique Sept. 3 in Current York Metropolis, TMZ reported, after a chum came upon him face down in a bedroom.
It’s unclear why the animal coach became as soon as within the Vital Apple, as he lived in Oklahoma. No treatment were came upon on the scene and a toxicology file is anticipated.
Cowie regarded on the reality repeat as one of now-imprisoned superstar Joe Peculiar’s longtime animal caretakers. After Joe, 58, became as soon as sent to detention center, Cowie stayed and took care of his huge cats on the Bigger Wynnewood Peculiar Animal Park.
He later testified against the animal wrangler who allegedly abused and killed some of his animals.
Cowie became as soon as busted for a DUI in Oklahoma earlier this year after being fascinated by a automobile accident. He pleaded responsible and became as soon as purported to be sentenced at the moment after the incident, but he did not present up for his hearing.
Many fans have speculated within the previous that Cowie’s crooked enamel were due to meth use. He denied that rumor and as soon as said his unhealthy pearly whites were due to customary age. He bought dental implants in July 2020 from fellow “Tiger King” superstar Jeff Lowe.
Cowie had admitted to having a ingesting suppose within the previous and in accordance with TMZ, he previously said he became as soon as “on the stay of [his] rope” along with his alcoholism earlier to finding Joe.
Joe, whose proper establish is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is serving 22 years in a federal scientific reformatory in Citadel Price, Texas, after he allegedly tried to rent two hitmen to waste his substitute rival Carole Baskin.
Baskin’s Vital Cat Rescue became as soon as awarded gain a watch on over Peculiar’s animal park in Wynnewood by a mediate in 2020, fragment of the settlement in her long-standing trademark lawsuit against Peculiar. Baskin sold the Oklahoma property and one of many provisions is that the land can’t be weak as a zoo for 100 years. Lowe grew to changed into over the total animals from Peculiar’s zoo to the DOJ.
