Sheriff: 56 exotic animals escaped from farm near Zanesville; 49 killed by authorities

dispatch.com ^ | October 19, 2011 | Dispatch staff reporter Kathy Lynn Gray and Staff

[chessplayer]

The animals that were killed included 18 tigers, nine male lions, eight female lions, six black bears, three mountain lions, two grizzly bears, one baboon and two wolves, Sheriff Matt Lutz said.

[chessplayer]

I don't know if it was possible to save any of them, but there is no doubt in my mind that some of the cops immensely enjoyed killing some of the few remaining tigers and mountain lions on the planet.

[1rudeboy]

You hijacked your own thread. Well done.

[MizSterious]

I don’t think they had any choice. The person I find fault with is the jerk who opened the cages before committing suicide. He signed their death warrants, and it could have been a lot worse if those animals had harmed humans.

[Rome2000]

OK, they could have just Tazed the Baboon.

[Fiji Hill]

I don't know if it was possible to save any of them, but there is no doubt in my mind that some of the cops immensely enjoyed killing some of the few remaining tigers and mountain lions on the planet.

There are plenty of mountain lions out here in Southern California, but tigers seem to be somewhat less plentiful.

[I am Richard Brandon]

I cannot believe that every one of these animals was so out of control that they had to be killed. Some of them had not moved away from their ‘cages’ according to some reports. This was simply ‘big game hunting’ on the cheap.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah it would have been so much more satisfying to whine about police allowing wild animals to kill children.

Oh well, maybe next time.

sheesh

[Lauren BaRecall]

Any of these cops ever hear of tranquilizer darts? The count of dead animals should not have been that high. There's something wrong here.

[Sacajaweau]

Better than one person injured....Let's say a 10 year old girl mauled to death by a lion.....

Now I hope they're not stupid enough to let the laws that allowed this remain unchanged.

Shoot to kill.....no problem in my book.

[JoeDetweiler]

There are plenty of ‘em up around Detroit.

[cripplecreek]

If Jack Hanna says killing them was the right thing to do. I’m gonna take his word for it.

[vetvetdoug]

Taxidermy must be a great business in and around Zanesville right now. No shortage of work there. Not everyone gets to hunt exotic big game and get paid for LE duties also at the same time. I hope the skins are preserved and not wasted.

[1rudeboy]

LOL—I’m sure the cops have heard of tranquilizer darts. They would probably have a good laugh at your expense, if you think they have them in their cars.

[TexasFreeper2009]

I don't believe for a second he committed suicide, I bet dollars to donuts some animal rights activist killed him and released the animals.

[Lauren BaRecall]

I can’t believe that the county, or the next one over, has no animal contol dept.

[Sacajaweau]

It wouldn’t surprise me....

[TexasFreeper2009]

I can almost hear the radio calls now...

Hey Buford! you better get your tail down here ASAP! it’s open season on African game animals! Jim bob’s done bagged himself a Rino and two zebra’s, and I took out a freaking Giraffe! haul your butt down here, and bring some extra ammo! this is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Yee ha!

[1rudeboy]

“Hey John, I know you did that stray cat for me last week . . . .” LOLOL

[Lauren BaRecall]

A call to Animal Control would have lowered the death count.

[nascarnation]

Well the first thing to ask is when was the last time they were fed. This game preserve owner appears to have been in a bad mental state.