Soon, over 300 animals at the Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park will have a new place to call home."We are planning to shut the zoo down in a few months," Lauren Lowe told KOCO.Lowe says it's because of all the bad news and vibes associated with former owner Joe "Joe Exotic" Maldonado, who's accused of hiring a hitman to kill a woman in Florida."This place is very tainted by Joe's name, and we do not want to associated with (it)," Lowe said. "His name carries a lot of baggage with it."She and her husband will pack up and take all their animals with them, although they're not ready to say when and where that will happen."We are planning to open up a different facility in a different location to get away from this place," Lowe said, telling KOCO they did try to change the reputation here."We did try our hardest to bring this place back up, but it will be better to (have a) fresh start," Lowe said — not only for them, but for the staff and their animals.

Soon, over 300 animals at the Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park will have a new place to call home.

"We are planning to shut the zoo down in a few months," Lauren Lowe told KOCO.


Lowe says it's because of all the bad news and vibes associated with former owner Joe "Joe Exotic" Maldonado, who's accused of hiring a hitman to kill a woman in Florida.

"This place is very tainted by Joe's name, and we do not want to associated with (it)," Lowe said. "His name carries a lot of baggage with it."

She and her husband will pack up and take all their animals with them, although they're not ready to say when and where that will happen."

We are planning to open up a different facility in a different location to get away from this place," Lowe said, telling KOCO they did try to change the reputation here.

"We did try our hardest to bring this place back up, but it will be better to (have a) fresh start," Lowe said — not only for them, but for the staff and their animals.