The September 3 HBO premiere of the fifth and final episode of “Monsters of God” delivers a shocking revelation about the line between conservation and illegal possession.
Created by Eric Goode, known for “Tiger King,” the five-part series investigates the global exotic reptile trafficking network. In the season finale, Goode travels to Penang, Malaysia, to interview Anson Wong, a wildlife smuggler often described as the “Pablo Escobar of animal trafficking.” Operating from a mountain fortress, Wong discusses his extensive smuggling empire, which exploits Malaysia’s weak wildlife protections and corrupt officials. Goode admitted to Variety that he was terrified ahead of the meeting, questioning whether his decision to engage directly with Wong was brave or reckless.
However, the episode’s most jarring twist occurs in its final scenes. Ken McCloud, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent who played a pivotal role in apprehending Wong, is revealed to be harboring a ploughshare tortoise in his living room. The species is the world’s most endangered tortoise, with only approximately 100 individuals remaining in the wild.
Goode utilized a hidden camera to film the animal in a modest terrarium at McCloud’s home. The director noted that McCloud had grown increasingly paranoid about theft, refusing to even place the valuable tortoise in his backyard. According to Goode, the agent became possessive of the creature, referring to it almost like a child.
The situation presents a complex ethical and legal dilemma. Goode recalled that on a previous visit, McCloud emerged waving a gun, prompting the use of covert filming. Goode also challenged the agent on the ethics of keeping such a rare animal in isolation and raised questions about government accountability, comparing the scenario to an ex-DEA agent retaining a stockpile of cocaine.
For Goode, a prominent turtle conservationist and the U.S. Studbook Keeper for American zoos regarding ploughshare tortoises, the discovery is deeply personal. Through his nonprofit, the Turtle Conservancy, he works to protect turtle species and has preserved vast tracts of wildlife habitat. He hopes the tortoise McCloud possesses will be relocated to a breeding colony to aid species recovery.
Goode reflected on the psychological complexity of McCloud’s actions, noting that the agent’s past work with reptile dealers may have fueled an addiction-like attachment to the animals. The finale serves as a stark reminder that those enforcing the law are not immune to the very vices they seek to suppress.
This is absolutely wild. A former agent keeping the most endangered tortoise? The irony is palpable and deeply unsettling.
Wait, he refused to put it in his backyard? That level of paranoia and possessiveness is scary. He treats it like a child, not wildlife.
How does Goode even manage to get that footage? Filming an armed, paranoid ex-agent secretly sounds incredibly dangerous for the crew.
I’m skeptical this was handled ethically. Using a hidden camera on a civilian feels wrong, even if the subject is technically breaking the law.
Honestly, this highlights how broken the system is. These enforcers get so close to the criminal world they sometimes become part of it.