Tiger King subject Joe Exotic makes admission about zoo in new documentary

Film was shot four months before eccentric tiger trader’s arrest

Tiger King subject Joe Exotic is returning to TV in a new documentary.

Months after Tiger King became one of the most-discussed shows in Netflix history, Surviving Joe Exotic will place the spotlight on the animals who lived at his sanctuary – and sees the eccentric tiger trader question why he even owns a zoo in the first place.

The film, which was recorded four months before Exotic was arrested and charged for his involvement in a plot to kill animal rights activist Carole Baskin, has been produced by Animal Planet.

It will show what happened to the animals after Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

In the trailer, Exotic – who is currently in prison – says of his decision to run a sanctuary: “I don’t know why the hell I’m doing this – [it] is definitely not one of the things you do to make money.”

Later, when he thought the cameras were switched off, Exotic can be heard saying: “These are my f***ing tigers, and I’m going to sell them.”

Exotic left the GW Exotic Animal Memorial Park in Oklahoma to his former business partner Jeff Lowe and his mother a few years back, but a judge recently ruled that this transfer was fraudulent.

Last month, the judge awarded Baskin full control of the land to help satisfy a $1m judgement that Exotic was ordered to pay her for copyright infringement.

Lowe was given 120 days to vacate the premises and remove all of his animals from the property.

Exotic described the news as “yet another emotional blow” to his “already fragile” state.

Surviving Joe Exotic will be released on 25 July on Animal Planet.