Carole Baskin carries a gun because 'Joe Exotic is still a danger behind bars'

Carole Baskin says she carries a gun with her because she’s “in just as much danger with Joe Exotic behind bars.”

Carole and Joe both shot to household name-status when Netflix released the addictive true crime documentary, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

It saw a furious rivalry develop between Joe – real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage – and Carole, a “big cat” activist who had dedicated years of her life to stop the breeding of lions and tigers in captivity.

This led her to but heads with zookeeper Joe, in a clash that escalates dramatically throughout the show.

Now he’s serving a 22-year sentence for animal abuse and a murder-for-hire plot against rival Carole.

But she insists that there’s still a danger, remarking that he “can still fund a hit man from prison.”

She added to The Daily Mail: “When people ask me if I’m relieved that he’s in jail, I say not really because there are still a lot of scary people who hate me and would also love to see me dead and I will still keep going after them.”

Carole went on to say that she and husband Howie have hired bodyguards, and carry guns legally.

“I’m on my guard all the time,” she said, “It’s definitely misogynistic.”

Last month Joe sued the US Justice Department for rejecting his official pardon request as it claimed it wasn’t valid as it hadn’t been presented directly to Donald Trump.

The New York Post reported that the lawsuit stated: “Many people have come out and publicly expressed their disagreement with Joe Exotic’s conviction and subsequent sentence.”

And in a bizarre twist, Joe pleaded with Kim Kardashian to help get him out of prison.

Aspiring lawyer Kim has been using her know-how to help out those she feels no longer deserve to be behind bars.

“I know you have never met me and may never want to however I do believe that you hold the values of our justice system dear to your heart,” Joe wrote to the reality star.

“I am writing you this letter not as Joe Exotic but as the person Joseph Maldonado-Passage, asking you to please help me by just taking 10 minutes out of your life and placing a call to President Trump…”

The Mirror has reached out to reps of Joe for comment.