These animals had been caged which is a whole other ballgame. You can’t possibly know the situation unless you are there yourself. I really doubt the “hicks” as you call them wanted to kill the animals for fun.
We have bears in the wildlife preserve here that are brought here for breeding but if they leave the preserve they are killed. That is the rule because once they leave the “safe” environment where they are accustomed they become predictors.
I would hate for some HUMAN/HUMANS to be mauled to death just because it upsets you to have exotic animals put down because they are a danger to people and other animals in the area.
The dozens part tells me they they were probably on the radio calling their friends to come quickly and get in on the free safari.
A good reporter needs to get a copy of all radio communication during this event, and the state game warden and possibly even federal authorities need to look into this because there is a good chance some of those animals might have been endangered species.