‘Monsters of God’ Finale Exposes Shocking Truth About Wildlife Smuggler and Conservation Agent

The finale of “Monsters of God,” a five‑part docuseries created by Eric Goode of “Tiger King” fame that delves into the exotic reptile smuggling trade, proves to be a revealing eye‑opener.

Having examined every facet of the shadowy reptile‑smuggling underworld — from dealers and collectors to zoos and federal agents — the fifth episode, airing on HBO September 3, follows Goode as he tracks down Anson Wong, dubbed the “Pablo Escobar of animal trafficking.” Wong oversees a sprawling wildlife‑smuggling network based in Malaysia, exploiting weak protective laws and corrupt officials. Goode secures an interview with Wong at his mountain fortress in Penang, where the two discuss Wong’s illicit empire in an unexpectedly cordial tone.

“I was definitely apprehensive the day before our meeting, unsure how it would unfold,” Goode told Variety. He added, “Sometimes I question whether I’m being foolish. I wouldn’t call myself brave, but you have to trust your instincts. While it may not be the most nervous I’ve ever felt, it ranks among the highest.”

But that is not the biggest revelation.

In the series’ closing moments, “Monsters of God” discloses that Ken McCloud, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent who devoted years to capturing Wong, has been harboring a ploughshare tortoise — the world’s most endangered tortoise, with roughly 100 individuals left in the wild — inside his residence.

The documentary captures Goode, using a hidden camera, entering the home of McCloud and his wife Rose, where he films the ploughshare tortoise housed in a dingy terrarium in their living area. Goode, who had photographed the couple years earlier for a magazine feature, says he felt “upset” when that image was published.

“I wasn’t aware he was trying to keep it secret,” Goode says. “He was extremely wary of theft, refusing to let the tortoise roam his backyard for fear someone might steal it given its immense value. Over time his paranoia grew, and the tortoise came to mean almost as much to him as a child.”

Goode chose to employ a hidden camera for the series after McCloud’s protectiveness over the tortoise escalated; during Goode’s previous visit, the former agent greeted him brandishing a firearm.

“It’s unfortunate,” Goode remarks. “I questioned him about what distinguishes a prisoner from a prison guard, discussed the ethics of confining the animal alone, and urged him that this wasn’t an appropriate setting for the tortoise.”

There is also a legal dimension. Goode observes, “I would expect the government to take action. If a former DEA agent retired with a garage full of cocaine, one would think, ‘We need to address this ex‑DEA agent.’” He adds, “I continue to converse with officials about how to handle this situation.”

This strikes a personal chord for Goode, a foremost authority on turtle conservation. Through his nonprofit, the Turtle Conservancy, he has safeguarded 65 turtle species and protected more than 70,000 acres of habitat worldwide. As the U.S. Studbook Keeper for ploughshare tortoises in American zoos, he monitors every individual outside of Madagascar. He hopes the tortoise taken by McCloud can join a breeding program to bolster the species, and he uses the story to illustrate that even those upholding the law can possess questionable motives.

Goode explains, “McCloud began his career with a reptile dealer in Los Angeles, which eventually led him to law enforcement, though he could have taken another path. He harbors a fervent passion—or addiction, if you liken it to a drug—for these creatures. Even while confiscating them from others, he relished being their keeper, much like a DEA agent who turns into an addict. This reveals a peculiar psychological dynamic at play.”

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