The court found that animals should be removed from the property. That same month, the Indiana Attorney General filed a complaint to remove Start from the organization and to return all misappropriated funds. In February 2020, the USDA revoked Star's animal exhibitor license due to more than 100 animal welfare violations. The court said Stark had a "falling out" with Lowe and returned to Indiana in August 2019. During this time, the court said Wildlife in Need paid for bulldozes, transportation equipment, and personal expenses and that Stark didn't get approval from the organization's board to do so. Court documents state 15 to 20 of them died during the move. Investigators said that in 2019, Stark left Indiana to attempt to form a zoo in Oklahoma with Jeff Lowe and took multiple animals with him. Officials claim Start told them he owns all the animals even though Wildlife in Need paid for them. The court documents start in 2014, Wildlife in Need had 43 animals, which went up to 293 after the playtime programs were implemented. For example in 20, there were making more than $1,000,000 a year. However, when the group started hosting a "Tiger Baby Playtime" program, revenue went up. The opinion states that until 2014, the organization has an annual revenue less than $50,000. Court documents state Wildlife in Need also routinely paid for Stark's personal credit card bills. The nonprofit also paid for property taxes and utility bills for the entire property including Stark's personal residence. The document said Stark had a line of credit that was secured by improvements to the property, which the nonprofit didn't have any lease agreements in place for the property it was located at. Documents state the Board of Directors rarely held formal meetings, didn't take minutes of meetings, and didn't prepare or review budgets or financial statements. The opinion states the court found Tim Stark will be personally liable to misappropriated funds from his nonprofit organization, Wildlife in Need, which is located in Charlestown, Indiana.Ĭourt documents state the nonprofit was started by Stark in 1999 who also served as its president. That's according to new court documents obtained by ABC's Dan Abrams. ~The Ambassadors at Wildlife in Need, Inc.LAS VEGAS (KTNV) - One of the characters from the hit Netflix show "Tiger King" has been found liable for misappropriating funds. We hope you enjoy our website, like us on Facebook, and join us during a tour and truly experience the wonder that is looking an exotic animal in the eye. Not only are we able to do what we do through the donations of caring individuals such as yourselves, we are able to promote wildlife welfare, safe handling and educate all who come into contact with us, on the magnificence of all the worlds exotic animals. ![]() While our main goal is to care for our animal Ambassadors, we believe that it is equally important to utilize all of our resources to provide a safe, interactive, and exciting way of educating the public. Every animal that comes to our facility is cared for as an individual, not just a new member of the group, and we strive to ensure that each animal gets an appropriate amount of care, handling and interaction that they need to be happy. It is the goal of Wildlife In Need, its owners, and staff to provide the highest level of care possible for our animals, and to ensure that they live happily at our facility, whether that be until they are able to be released into the wild or for the rest of their lives. ![]() ![]() Run by Tim Stark, its Board of Directors and a group of dedicated and hard-working volunteers, WIN is supported 100% through public support, donations received through tours, fundraisers, public events, and presentations. is a 501c3, nonprofit organization in Charlestown, Indiana dedicated to the rehabilitation & release of indigenous wildlife & provision of safe harbor to an array of exotic & endangered species.
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