What Happened to Carole Ann Baskin?

Carole Baskin's journey into the public eye began long before the 2020 Netflix phenomenon 'Tiger King.' Born Carole Ann Stairs in 1961, she founded Big Cat Rescue (originally Wildlife on Easy Street) in Tampa, Florida, in 1992 with her then-husband, Don Lewis, as a sanctuary for exotic cats. Her mission evolved into staunch animal rights activism, particularly against the private ownership and cub-petting of big cats, which put her in direct conflict with figures like Joe Exotic.

The release of 'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness' in March 2020 catapulted Baskin into international stardom, but also brought intense scrutiny. The series extensively covered her bitter rivalry with Joe Exotic, who was later convicted for a murder-for-hire plot against her and animal abuse. A significant portion of the documentary also delved into the mysterious 1997 disappearance of her second husband, Don Lewis, leading to widespread speculation and accusations against Baskin, which she vehemently denied. Lewis was declared legally dead in 2002. Despite the controversies, Baskin leveraged her newfound fame to further her advocacy, appearing on 'Dancing With the Stars' in September 2020.

A pivotal moment in Baskin's career was the successful lobbying for the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA). After more than two decades of effort, the federal bill, which bans private ownership of big cats and prohibits public contact with cubs, was passed by Congress on December 6, 2022, and signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 20, 2022. This legislative victory was a major achievement for Baskin and Big Cat Rescue, fulfilling a long-term goal to curb the abuse of big cats in the U.S..

Following the passage of the BCPSA, Baskin announced a significant shift in Big Cat Rescue's operations. In March 2023, she revealed plans to close the physical sanctuary, stating that their goal had always been to 'put ourselves out of business' by eliminating the need for such facilities. By December 2023, most of the remaining 41 big cats were relocated to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, with Big Cat Rescue committing to fund their care for life. The sanctuary officially ceased its operations in Tampa in January 2025. The land, approximately 56 acres, was sold in December 2024 for $19.5 million, with proceeds earmarked for global conservation projects aimed at preventing wild cat extinction.

As of August 2026, Carole Baskin, alongside her husband Howard, remains dedicated to the enforcement of the Big Cat Public Safety Act and focuses on 'in situ' conservation efforts to protect wild cats in their natural habitats, utilizing technology like 360° live streaming to educate the public. She also continues to navigate legal challenges, including a defamation lawsuit brought by Anne McQueen, a former assistant to Don Lewis, which Baskin petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to review in February 2024. While her public persona remains intertwined with the 'Tiger King' narrative and the mystery surrounding Don Lewis, Baskin's current work is firmly rooted in global wildlife conservation and legislative advocacy.