Posted on 10/19/2011 6:26:30 AM PDT by Daffynition
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WTVN) -- A number of exotic animals, including lions, bears and cheetahs, were running loose in Muskingum County after someone opened their cages.
The owner of the wild animal preserve on Kopchak Rd, which runs along I-70, was found dead.
During a press conference Tuesday night, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz urged residents to stay indoors and recommended that some area schools cancel classes on Wednesday.
Zanesville City Schools, West Muskingum Local Schools and Maysville Local Schools had cancelled classes.
There were reportedly upwards of 50 animals at the farm.
(Excerpt) Read more at 610wtvn.com ...
"It's a terrible situation, there's no doubt about that," ... "The loss of any animal's life is tragic. Of course, the loss of a human life would be even more tragic." ~Jack Hanna
I heard reports that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he released the animals.
Related thread:
Exotic animals escape Ohio farm; owner found dead
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2794829/posts
I saw them talking about it on the Today Show and they said the owner commited suicide and may have been the one who deliberately let the animals out. Hopefully, all the animals are caught and have someplace to go. Just don’t tell my mom. She loves animals (more dangerouse the better) and she’ll adopt the grizzlies, lions, wolves, etc and treat them like the labradors she babysits. I R not Noms...
This story is very strange. It seems Muskingum County LE had issues with Thompson. They are using infrared and mowing down animals on sight.
I don’t trust reporters, or cops, for that matter.
It’s beyond bizarre.
Apparently the animal owner had permits for the critters ...and in these down times, there might have been issues, not reported. Hopefully they’ll get to the bottom of this, truthfully.
........lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, giraffes, camels and bears.,,,oh my!
This story was reported on WLS AM this morning. They said the LE had already killed 30 of them.
Occupy Zanesville!
Although this is tragic for the animals, I do support the law enforcement community with this one. Why? Even if they tried to trap them.. how long would it take? Children being kept indoors, out of school etc... isn’t how I would like to live. They aren’t taking chances with innocent human lives. I don’t understand the man who owned these animals? Was this his final “to heck with you” statement on society? If so.. the only outcome he ensured was that these animals would be killed. IMHO.
Yeah, the logistics involved would be immense. It’s not like you can ask the county’s dogcatcher to take a bear to the pound.
Anothter reason to carry a sidearm or two.
Yeah, that’s the same thing I’m reading. He released the outside animals and shot himself. He was in financial difficulty I believe if I remember everything I read searching for info on this story this morning.
Have to admit I was astounded at the insane posts in the Ohio blogs. Folks putting those animal’s live above humans. Most wanting ALL of them tranqualized. How? If all those tree-huggers are SO upset the animals were in captivity..what the hell was supposed to be done with them once they were caught? You cannot let them run free anymore. They have been associated with humans too long.
One nutball even said if he saw an exotic animal going after a human, he’d spare the animal. Wow. Wonder if he’d feel the same if one were after him??
I figure if you look at the risk factor.. they have to eliminate the threat as soon as possible. For one thing, how far could these animals travel? What is the risk to someone going to get their mail or walking down their own driveway? What is the risk to children and the elderly (they may seem like easy prey).
Lions, and... wolves, and bears, oh my!
IF he was in financial difficulty he could have SOLD many of these animals. Some of these animals may be worth 10’s of thousands of dollars.
FYI, there was a exotic animal farm here in NH. The owner told me that one of his bengel tigers was for $75K. That was ten years ago.
Also, I would bet that all these animals were raised in captivity. Someone did not go out and catch these animals in Africa like John Wayne in “Hatari”.
Yes, this is true. Most were probably raised in captivity, but that doesn’t make them tame. They do not lose their natural instincts.
Issue with selling them is it puts the same situation in someone else’s back yard/community. I think exotics are beautiful, but wouldn’t want the landowner next to me raising them.
PETA is not happy!
Jack Hanna, "You don't want to tranquilize a wild animal in the dark."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.