A local wildlife expert attempted to hand over three big cats he was keeping on Wednesday because of an ongoing court case with their owner but moving the large animals wasn't as easy as crews had hoped.
For the last year and a half, at the state’s request, Vernon Yates has been taking care of two tigers and a leopard that were confiscated from a Palm Beach facility owned by “Tarzan” actor Steve Sipek.
After around four hours of trying to move Lepa and Bo into transfer cages, the tigers refused to budge. Only Oko, the leopard went into her cage without a fight.
Yates wouldn't help Wednesday because of the ongoing court battle that got the cats there in the first place.
"We're not going to do it. They don't want to pay us to do it. We're not doing it,” he said.
Yates just wants the cats gone since he's out $60,000 for caring for them. A judge had ruled he wasn’t entitled to compensation for caring for them.
But he'll have to put up with them for another night. A vet will return Thursday to anesthetize the animals for safe transfer.
Yates will be paid about $320 for keeping the tigers overnight.