West Coast Game Park Safari Owner Sentenced to 7½ Years in Prison

BANDON, Ore. - The owner of the former West Coast Game Park Safari near Bandon has been sentenced to 7½ years in prison following his guilty pleas to 47 criminal charges, most involving the neglect of animals at the facility.

Brian Tenney was sentenced Tuesday in Coos County Circuit Court to 90 months in the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections, followed by three years of post-prison supervision, according to courtroom reporting by KCBY.

Tenney was also ordered to pay $340,922.61 in restitution to state agencies and organizations involved in caring for animals removed from the park. The sentence includes a 15-year prohibition on possessing or living with domestic animals and animals within the same genera as those involved in the charges.

Tenney pleaded guilty in April to 43 counts of animal neglect, along with charges of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a machine gun, recklessly endangering another person and racketeering.

The sentence also addressed a separate case involving driving-related charges. The judge said Tenney was being sentenced in connection with two matters involving driving offenses and wildlife-related crimes.

According to the State of Oregon’s sentencing memorandum, state and federal inspectors began documenting significant concerns about animal health and living conditions at the park in 2024. Those concerns included inadequate veterinary care, unsafe enclosures, insufficient staffing, unsanitary food-storage areas and animals showing signs of malnutrition and untreated medical problems.

Oregon State Police began investigating the facility in October 2024. The Oregon Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement division joined the investigation in March 2025.

Search warrants were served at the park between May 15 and May 18, 2025. More than 270 living animals representing over 40 species were removed, according to the sentencing memorandum. Earlier agency reporting placed the overall number of animals relocated from the property at approximately 310.

The state’s filing described neglect involving numerous species, including tigers, lions, leopards, primates, bears, elk, deer, capybaras, livestock and birds. Investigators also recovered animal remains from the property.

Among the most serious cases was a 17-year-old Bengal tiger named Rocko. Park records attributed the tiger’s death to injuries sustained during a fight, but a later examination found no evidence of fatal trauma and concluded the animal died from starvation, according to the state.

A fishing cat that the park reported had died after falling from a platform was also determined to have suffered from severe malnutrition. Other animals were found with parasites, untreated injuries, poor body conditions or inadequate access to clean food, water and shelter.

Investigators searching the property also found approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine, about 8 grams of cocaine, drug-packaging materials, dozens of firearms and more than $1 million in checks, bonds and cash. One of the weapons was identified as a machine gun, according to the sentencing memorandum.

During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors said the resolution of the case reflected Tenney’s early agreement to surrender the animals, his acceptance of the plea agreement and his agreement to pay restitution.

A representative of the Oregon Humane Society delivered a victim-impact statement and described the extensive resources required from organizations across Oregon and the nation to remove, transport and care for the animals.

Tenney declined to make a statement to the court. His attorney spoke on his behalf and said Tenney had accepted responsibility early in the case.

The restitution includes payments to the Oregon Humane Society, Oregon State Police and nine animal-care organizations. Wildlife Safari in Winston was awarded $25,470.30 for its role in the response.

Other recipients include the Performing Animal Welfare Society, The Wildcat Sanctuary, WildCat Ridge Sanctuary, Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, Lions Tigers & Bears, Hemker Park & Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

Tenney was taken into custody following sentencing. The West Coast Game Park Safari, which operated along Highway 101 south of Bandon for decades, has remained closed since the animals were removed in 2025.