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The finale of “Monsters of God,” a five-part documentary series created by Eric Goode of “Tiger King” fame, concludes its examination of the exotic reptile smuggling underworld on HBO. The series has investigated numerous players in this illegal trade, including dealers, collectors, zoos, and federal agents. The final episode, which premiered September 3rd, takes viewers to Malaysia where Goode meets with Anson Wong, a major figure in wildlife trafficking operations who exploits the country’s weak animal protection regulations.
However, the episode’s most striking revelation concerns Ken McCloud, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent who dedicated his career to combating smuggling operations like Wong’s. The documentary exposes that McCloud has been illegally keeping an endangered ploughshare tortoise—one of approximately 100 remaining in the wild—in his home. Goode used hidden camera footage to document the animal confined to a cramped terrarium, as McCloud had become increasingly protective and paranoid about potential theft.
Goode, a renowned turtle conservationist who oversees the breeding records for ploughshare tortoises in American zoos, views McCloud’s actions as hypocritical and harmful. The filmmaker has attempted to persuade the government to intervene, comparing the situation to law enforcement officials illegally hoarding contraband. Goode hopes the tortoise can eventually be placed in a legitimate breeding program to help preserve the critically endangered species.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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