Wolf Dog From Joe Exotic’s Zoo Now Lives at a Colorado Sanctuary

In 2020, Netflix's true crime series, Tiger King, documented Joe Exotic's (Maldonado) chaotic roadside zoo in Oklahoma. The Tiger King's story was a wild ride from start to finish,  ultimately ending with his arrest and the zoo being shut down.

Many viewers were left wondering what happened to the big cats and other animals at the G.W. Zoo, now that Joe Exotic is in prison. Fortunately, there are groups out there who actually care about the well-being of animals and act on their behalf in situations like this.

When G.W. Exotic Animal Park permanently closed, Colorado's Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg stepped in to help. The sanctuary announced that they brought 58 of Joe Exotic's animals to the refuge in Colorado where they would live in safe, humane conditions and receive proper food and medical care. Some of the animals that were rescued included 11 wolves, three tigers, one black bear, and one grizzly bear.

Related: 42 of the Tiger King's Zoo Animals Now Live at Colorado Sanctuary

Since arriving in Colorado several years ago, the animals seized from the Tiger King's zoo are now thriving.

This is also the case for another animal that once spent time at the G.W. Zoo, but has since found refuge in the Centennial State. Ember is a captive-born wolf dog that came to the W.O.L.F. Sanctuary in Larimer Country six years ago, but her path to get here was harrowing.

Ember was born on a farm in Minnesota that would raise wolf dogs to eventually kill them and sell their pelts. Additionally, the farm operated as a petting zoo that allowed guests to handle the pups. A 2017 legal investigation uncovered evidence that the farm was mistreating its wolf dogs. Subsequently, a court order demanded that the 67 animals living on the property would be seized.

However, when the sheriff and rescuers from Lockwood Animal Rescue Center (LARC) arrived at the farm to confiscate the animals, the wolf dogs were nowhere to be found.

With lots of deep investigative work, in April of 2018, LARC was able to locate 26 of the wolves. They had been secretly transported to the Tiger King's zoo in Oklahoma.

Related: Tiger King's 16 Remaining Animals Rescued by Colorado Sanctuary

In May 2018, Joe Exotic agreed to surrender the wolf dogs that came from the Minnesota farm. During this time, LARC rescued Ember and took her to California where she was given medical care and time to recover from her abusive ordeal. As expected, the young wolf dog was shy and skittish around humans at first.

A few months later, Colorado's  W.O.L.F. Sanctuary suddenly lost an older female wolf, and they began a search to find an appropriate female who needed a male companion. W.O.L.F. reached out to LARC about Ember and from there, the match was made.

Arrangements were made to fly out to California to pick up Ember and bring her back to Colorado. She arrived to her new home in January 2019 and soon formed a beautiful bond with a male wolf named Ahote. The pair was frequently seen playing together and sleeping close to one another. Sadly, Ahote passed away from cancer in 2020.

Following Ahote's death, Ember was paired with another resident wolf dog named Jacob. According to staff, Ember has come out of her shell and has a fun personality that she displays with humans and her new partner.

In August of 2023, Jacob and Ember were moved from Rist Canyon to their forever home at the sanctuary in Red Feather Lakes.