Sheriff’s deputies shot nearly 50 lions, tigers and other wild animals and say they’ve accounted for all but one monkey after the owner of a private farm released dozens of animals from their cages then shot and killed himself.
Officials continued to search for a macaque monkey still roaming the area on Wednesday after shooting 49 animals and taking another six to the zoo. Among the animals killed: 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, six black bears, one baboon, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions and two wolves. Ohio has some of the most lax regulations of exotic animals in the country.
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
.....the owner of a private farm released dozens of animals from their cages then shot and killed himself.....
this is ONE reason why the authorities must NOT allow mini zoos within/or near city limits...they are dangerous animals and they must not be allowed close to residential areas...PERIOD!
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
Oh my, this is so sad :( I wish they could've done something differently and saved the animals. Why would the man do this? Why did he release them into a city? He could've just killed himself (if he really wanted to) without putting others in danger. His selfishness killed 49 animals. I agree with KKF, there should be measure taken so this sort of thing doesn't happen.
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
I agree it was the zoo keepers fault to letting them out and then kill him self . But I guess due to the amount of time the police had, they had to shot and kill quickly. I mean otherwise no one can leave their home and kids can’t come home from school.
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
It is too sad!!!! I still feel they should not have shot them!!! They should have tranquilized them instead...I mean instead of BULLETS they could use the tranquilizers...
I know it is for our safety they did it..but they really could have handled it some other way!!
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
Actually, they did try to tranquilize them, but it takes time for the tranquilizer to take effect. For instance, they shot a dart into one animal (a bear I think) but it charged the man anyway and the animal had to be shot. These are animals who are not afraid of humans. And it was dark. In the few hours it would take to get the tranquilizer guns and shooters to the scene, those animals would be all over the countryside. (It was not actually in a city…more like on the edge of a town I think. The guy had 73 acres.) Also, he had sabotaged the cages so that they could not be closed, so they couldn’t be reincarcerated.
I don’t think the sheriff had a choice. Think about it: 17 or 18 full size Bengal tigers, and an equal number of African linons and cougars. And bears and wolves. Let loose anywhere is a very dangerous situation. If you go here BBC News - In pictures: Exotic animals escape Ohio game reserve and go to the 4th photo, you can see the enormity of the situation, and the incredible tragedy of losing all those tigers. It is just heartbreaking.
Don’t blame “Americans”, as though any other police dept in any country anywhere wouldn’t have done the same thing.
However, the real crime was allowing any private individual to own so many dangerous and endangered animals.
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
^ I guess you are right..and that 4th picture is heart breaking :(
I don't know why ppl are allowed to have private zoos..and why we should even think of having Lions and other predatory animals as pets!!!!?
I mean I jst finished watching a program on National Geographic...and they showed a family in Pakistan having a lion as a pet!!!! ofcoz the lion attacked one of the kids, grabbed the kid by his arm...but he survived...but seriously...if something worse happens..the lion would be shot..why? coz some idiot thought it would be great and fun to have a lion as a pet!!! It is not just in Pak..but a lot of idiots do it...they are hunters..it is what they were born to do..they can never be tamed..so I think we should stop trying to tame them...
Re: Exotic Animals Released Into The Public: Than Shot
Now I have read that perhaps all is not as it seemed...but I don't know if this is all just the ramblings of conspiracy nutjobs, but, they ask:
Why would the owner cut the locks and crowbar the cages when he has the keys?
How did he let loose all the animals and not get eaten/mauled by the first ones out, since it takes time to sabotage 50 cages?
It is said that his body was found with dead chickens around it...as though someone wanted to entice the large animals to come over and eat the man?
Why would he let them all loose,animals that he had taken care of for years and obviously cared about, knowing that in all likelihood, they would be killed?
. But I guess due to the amount of time the police had, they had to shot and kill quickly. I mean otherwise no one can leave their home and kids can’t come home from school.