Left: Oregon State Police conduct a raid at the West Coast Game Park Safari. Right: A photo provided by the Oregon State Police shows a lion at the West Coast Game Park Safari near Bandon, Oregon, dated May 15, 2025 (Oregon State Police via AP).
The owner of a safari park in Oregon has been taken into custody after authorities reportedly found not just more than 300 animals in poor condition, but also around 80 grams of methamphetamine, eight grams of cocaine, and $1.6 million in cash.
According to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Brian Tenney, aged 52, faces charges of methamphetamine possession, production, and attempted trafficking, as reported Tuesday.
According to the Oregon State Police, law enforcement agencies and the Oregon Humane Society, among others, raided the West Coast Game Park Safari near Bandon on May 15. The raid was the result of a “lengthy criminal investigation into the facility’s operations.” During the four-day search of the property, officials discovered 310 animals, some of which were in poor condition.
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“Teams of veterinary staff evaluated dietary needs of the animals and supplied fresh feed for each species,” state police said. “The Oregon Humane Society purchased food and staff from all agencies are assisting in animal feeding.”
A camel, a chicken, and a kinkajou had to be euthanized, per cops. The rest of the animals were dispersed to other animal sanctuaries or rescue facilities.
In addition to the drugs and cash, cops also allegedly recovered 44 firearms, one of which was modified into a machine gun.
The park is shut down. It opened in 1968 as “The Deer Park,” and four years later, Tenney’s parents bought the park and renamed it “The West Coast Game Park Safari” after adding numerous different animals, according to its website. The parents retired in 2009 and “passed the reins to their son, who has since upheld the family legacy,” the website said.
But the park has had problems with regulatory authorities for years, USA Today reported. U.S. Department of Agriculture, as recently as last month, noted animals in poor condition and rodent feces within food storage containers. Authorities also found a dead tiger that had been in a freezer for months.
Tenney was arrested Tuesday and taken to the Coos County Jail. It appears he has since bonded out.
