Carole Baskin is a prominent American animal rights activist known for her work as CEO of Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary dedicated to providing a safe haven for abused and neglected big cats. Her unwavering dedication to animal welfare has garnered significant attention from media outlets worldwide, effectively raising awareness about the challenges faced by captive big cats and advocating for their protection.
June 6, 1961: Carole Baskin's Birth
On June 6, 1961, Carole Ann Stairs, later known as Carole Baskin, was born.
April 7, 1979: First Marriage
Carole Baskin married Michael Murdock, her boss at a Tampa department store, on April 7, 1979.
October 1979: First Pregnancy
Carole Baskin became pregnant in October 1979.
July 16, 1980: Birth of Daughter
Carole Baskin's daughter was born on July 16, 1980.
1981: Meeting Don Lewis
In 1981, Carole Baskin met Don Lewis and began an affair with him while they were both married.
1984: Involvement in Real Estate
Carole Baskin started helping Don Lewis buy and sell real estate in 1984, contributing to his wealth.
January 1991: Marriage to Don Lewis
Carole Baskin married Don Lewis, her second husband, in January 1991 and joined his real estate business.
1991: Marriage to Don Lewis
Carole Baskin and Don Lewis married in 1991 after divorcing their respective spouses.
1992: Founding of Wildlife on Easy Street
Carole and Don Lewis established Wildlife on Easy Street, an animal sanctuary near Tampa for big cats, in 1992.
July 1997: Restraining Order and Marital Issues
Don Lewis filed a restraining order against Carole Baskin in July 1997, which was rejected. Baskin claimed he filed it due to their conflicts over his accumulation of belongings. Despite this, Lewis continued to live with Baskin.
August 1997: Don Lewis's Disappearance
Don Lewis went missing in August 1997, a case that remains unsolved as of 2023.
1997: Don Lewis's Disappearance and Renaming of the Sanctuary
Following Don Lewis's disappearance in 1997, Carole Baskin renamed Wildlife on Easy Street to Big Cat Rescue.
1997: Cessation of Breeding at Wildlife on Easy Street
By 1997, Wildlife on Easy Street, under the management of Carole and Don Lewis, stopped breeding lions, tigers, and other big cats after realizing the ethical implications of breeding.
1998: Baskin Begins Lobbying for Captive Wildlife Safety Act
In 1998, Baskin started her efforts to pass the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, demonstrating her early commitment to animal welfare and her dedication to legislative change.
November 2002: Meeting Howard Baskin
Carole Baskin met Howard Baskin at an event for the No More Homeless Pets organization in November 2002.
2002: Don Lewis Declared Legally Dead
Don Lewis was declared legally dead in 2002, following his disappearance in 1997.
2002: Questionable Letter Regarding Don Lewis's Whereabouts Surfaces in "Tiger King 2"
In "Tiger King 2," a letter purportedly from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emerged, claiming that Don Lewis was located safe and sound in Costa Rica. The letter's authenticity is dubious, as the DHS wasn't established until 2002, several years after Lewis's disappearance.
November 2003: Engagement to Howard Baskin
Howard Baskin proposed to Carole Baskin in November 2003.
2003: Passage of the Captive Wildlife Safety Act
In 2003, the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which Baskin had been actively lobbying for, was successfully passed. This marked a significant step forward in the regulation of exotic animals in the United States.
November 2004: Marriage to Howard Baskin
Carole Baskin and Howard Baskin got married in November 2004.
2009: Start of Feud with Joe Exotic
Carole Baskin's feud with Joe Exotic began in 2009 when Big Cat Rescue volunteers protested against his cub-petting shows.
2013: Legal Victory Against Joe Exotic
Carole Baskin won a $1 million lawsuit against Joe Exotic in 2013 for trademark infringement, leading to his bankruptcy.
2015: Joe Exotic's Diss Track
Joe Exotic released a diss track in 2015 referencing Don Lewis's disappearance.
March 2019: Release of "Tiger King" Documentary
The Netflix documentary "Tiger King", featuring Carole Baskin, was released in March 2019.
November 2019: Announcement of "Joe Exotic" Series Adaptation
In November 2019, Universal Content Productions announced the development of a television series based on the Joe Exotic podcast.
June 2020: Carole Baskin Awarded Ownership of Joe Exotic's Zoo
In June 2020, a federal judge ruled in favor of Carole Baskin, granting ownership of Joe Exotic's former zoo property to her and Big Cat Rescue. The judge's decision was based on the finding that Exotic had fraudulently transferred the property to his mother in an attempt to avoid paying Baskin a $1 million trademark judgment.
August 2020: Joe Exotic's Zoo Loses License and Closes
In August 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture revoked the license of Joe Exotic's former zoo due to concerns over inadequate veterinary care. Consequently, the park, then under the management of Jeff Lowe, was permanently shut down.
September 2020: Lewis Family's Public Appeal
During Carole Baskin's appearances on "Dancing with the Stars" in September 2020, Don Lewis's family aired a commercial appealing for information about his disappearance, offering a reward.
October 2020: Coming Out as Bisexual
Carole Baskin publicly came out as bisexual in October 2020.
2020: "Tiger King" Documentary and Public Attention
In 2020, the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King" brought Carole Baskin to public attention, focusing on her feud with Joe Exotic and raising speculation about her involvement in Don Lewis's disappearance. Baskin denied these claims.
2020: Joe Exotic's Conviction
In 2020, Joe Exotic was convicted of attempting to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin.
2020: Appearance on "Dancing with the Stars"
Carole Baskin participated in season 29 of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2020.
February 2021: Carole Baskin Declines "Tiger King" Season 2 Offer and Participates in BBC Documentary
In February 2021, Carole Baskin revealed that she declined an offer to appear in the second season of "Tiger King." She also participated in a BBC documentary called "Shooting Joe Exotic," where she and Howard Baskin discussed "Tiger King" and refuted the allegation that she was involved in Don Lewis's disappearance.
May 2021: Federal Authorities Seize Big Cats from Jeff and Lauren Lowe
In May 2021, federal authorities confiscated 68 big cats from Jeff and Lauren Lowe, who had relocated the animals from Joe Exotic's former zoo to Oklahoma with plans to open a new park. The seizure followed a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department alleging a history of substandard animal care by the Lowes. Ultimately, their new park never opened.
November 1, 2021: Baskins Sue Netflix over "Tiger King 2"
On November 1, 2021, Carole and Howard Baskin initiated legal action against Netflix and Royal Goode Productions, alleging a breach of contract related to "Tiger King 2." They claimed the original release agreement didn't permit the use of their footage in derivative works or sequels. Their request for an injunction to halt the film's release on November 17 was denied by a U.S. District Judge.
November 15, 2021: Federal Court Denies Baskins' Injunction Against "Tiger King 2"
On November 15, 2021, just two days before the premiere of "Tiger King 2," a federal court in Tampa Bay rejected a preliminary injunction sought by the Baskins to stop the show's release. Netflix's lawyers argued that a delay would harm the show's marketing momentum and infringe upon their First Amendment rights.
2021: Appearance in "Shooting Joe Exotic"
In 2021, Carole Baskin and her husband Howard appeared in the Louis Theroux documentary "Shooting Joe Exotic".
March 3, 2022: Release of "Joe v Carole"
The television series "Joe v Carole", based on the Joe Exotic podcast and featuring Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin, premiered on Peacock on March 3, 2022.
December 20, 2022: President Biden Signs Big Cat Public Safety Act into Law
Carole Baskin's advocacy for the humane treatment of big cats culminated in the enactment of the Big Cat Public Safety Act on December 20, 2022. Signed by President Joe Biden, the legislation marked a significant victory in her longstanding campaign against the private ownership and exploitation of these animals.
2023: Ongoing Investigation into Lewis's Disappearance
As of 2023, the investigation into Don Lewis's disappearance is still active.