The finale of “Monsters of God,” a five-part docuseries from “Tiger King” creator Eric Goode exploring the exotic reptile smuggling trade, is an eye-opener.
\n\nAfter exploring all avenues of the shady underworld of reptile smuggling, from reptile dealers and collectors to the zoos and the feds, the fifth part of the enthralling show — airing the night of Sept. 3 on HBO — sees Goode track down Anson Wong, a man known as the “Pablo Escobar of animal trafficking” who runs a vast network of wildlife smuggling operations out of Malaysia, capitalizing on the country’s lax wildlife protection laws and officials open to bribery. Goode sits down for an interview with Wong at his fortress in the mountains of Penang, and the two engage in a chummy discussion about his illegal empire.
\n\n“I was definitely fearful the day before meeting him and wondering how this was going to play out,” Goode told Variety, adding, “Sometimes I wonder if I’m just being stupid. It’s not that I’m brave by any stretch, but you just feel it out. I don’t know if it’s the most nervous I’ve been, but it’s certainly up there.”
\n\nBut that isn’t the biggest surprise.
\n\nDuring its final…
Original source: https://variety.com/v/tv/