2011 Ohio exotic animal release
Encyclopedia
On October 18, 2011, near the Muskingum County Animal Farm
preserve in Zanesville, Ohio
, owner Terry Thompson was purported to have set his 56 exotic animals free before committing suicide. Of the 56 exotic animals, 48 were killed by the local police. The animals freed included lions, leopards, wolves, tigers, primates, bears, and 18 Bengal tiger
s. The animals confirmed to be dead are the 18 Bengal tigers, six black bears, two grizzlies, two wolves, and 17 lions. Three leopards, one grizzly bear, and two monkeys were captured and sent to the Columbus Zoo. One monkey was unaccounted for, but police believe it was eaten by a lion or a tiger.
Matt Lutz for allowing the killings. PETA
sharply criticized the Ohio laws which allowed the animals to be kept in captivity. Jack Hanna
lamented the killings but defended the police, saying that "it had to be done". Ohio governor John Kasich
called for a temporary moratorium on the sale of exotic animals.
Muskingum County Animal Farm
Muskingum County Animal Farm was a private zoo located in Zanesville, Ohio, United States.The zoo received world-wide attention on October 19, 2011, when dozens of exotic animals were released from their enclosures. Bears, lions, tigers, and wolves were among those who escaped, and were hunted by...
preserve in Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
, owner Terry Thompson was purported to have set his 56 exotic animals free before committing suicide. Of the 56 exotic animals, 48 were killed by the local police. The animals freed included lions, leopards, wolves, tigers, primates, bears, and 18 Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
s. The animals confirmed to be dead are the 18 Bengal tigers, six black bears, two grizzlies, two wolves, and 17 lions. Three leopards, one grizzly bear, and two monkeys were captured and sent to the Columbus Zoo. One monkey was unaccounted for, but police believe it was eaten by a lion or a tiger.
Reactions
The incident prompted mixed reactions. Some acknowledged that human life was more important and that police had no choice to kill the animals, while others have criticized SheriffSheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Matt Lutz for allowing the killings. PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
sharply criticized the Ohio laws which allowed the animals to be kept in captivity. Jack Hanna
Jack Hanna
John Bushnell "Jack" Hanna is an American zookeeper who is the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He was Director of the zoo from 1978 to 1993, and is viewed as largely responsible for elevating its quality and reputation. His media appearances have made him one of the most...
lamented the killings but defended the police, saying that "it had to be done". Ohio governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
called for a temporary moratorium on the sale of exotic animals.
Further reading
- Lynch, Rene (October 20, 2011.) "Exotic animals: 18 tiger deaths a cruel blow to imperiled species." Los Angeles Times. Accessed October 2011.