The West Coast Game Park Safari located on 21 acres off U.S. 101 just south of Bandon, Oregon has been a unique local attraction for more than half a century.
It began as a small roadside attraction with four deer in 1968 called “The Deer Park” was purchased four years later by Bob and Mary Tenney who expanded and focused on exotic animal breeding, dealing and cub petting. Advertised as “America’s largest wild animal petting park.” best known for offering up-close encounters with lions, tigers, foxes and other wild animals. By 1985 with over 200 animals, they boasted 60,000 visitors a year.
Their son Brian took over and by 2016 the cruelty violations began. He killed two black bears in their cage because he considered them a flight risk. Animals went days without food and many died without being seen by the attending veterinarian. Frozen turkeys were stored in a freezer with the body of a dead tiger. The USDA cited the park 78 times in a year.
In 2023 Brian allowed visitors to pet a juvenile jaguar, a clear violation of the newly passed Big Cat Public Safety Act, a federal offense under the jurisdiction of the US Fish and Wildlife.
The Oregon State Police launched an investigation with the assistance of Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Humane Society, Department of Agriculture, Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Services’ Criminal Investigation unit.
On Aug. 19, Brian was indicted by a Coos County grand jury for 371 charges, ranging from animal neglect and violating wildlife laws to drugs and racketeering.
The Sheriff said additional searches led to the discovery of 44 guns, including a modified machine gun, eight grams of cocaine, methamphetamine, and about $1.6 million in cash, bonds and cashier’s checks.
310 animals were seized and relocated to sanctuary and rescue facilities. Four of them were big cats. Two went to PAWS in California and Two went to Safe Haven in Las Vegas.
Tigers in America was happy to provide financial assistance for the relocation.
