50 +/- Large Carnivores Set Loose in Ohio - Page 1

This just happened last night, in Zanesville about an hour east of Columbus.

A man running a large exotic carnivore rescue in Ohio is believed to have set loose the animals and then committed suicide.  Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Primates, Bears and Wolves make up most of the species set loose.  Unconfirmed sightings of animals were up to 10 miles away.  Officials have secured or killed most of them.  One large cat was hit by a driver on the interstate.  One primate is believed to have been killed by a lion.  They believe there are now only 3 animals unaccounted for, a couger, a grizzly and a primate. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44953925/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?GT1=43001 

They say the guy killed himself and cut open the cages on the animals and that they have had complaints for years people trying to shut the place down. My problem with the facts supplied by the sherrif is if it was the man himself why were the cages cut instead of just unlocked? Something just does not add up for me.

Some of the cages were apparently cut open to prevent capture and re-enclosure of the animals that had been in those cages.

These animals were kept in an area approximately 1/2 mile from the city limits. I think that Sheriff Lutz did a great job considering the fact that no lives were lost from animal attacks or errant gunfire.
A few of the animals, I heard the number 7 just given, were captured and are on their way to the Columbus Zoo (some big cats and a grizzly bear). Monkey with Herpes B still loose and has a shoot on sight order

 

I saw this on the news!  Strange!

How heartbreakingly sad to have to kill all those beautiful animals.