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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/na...io-exotic-animals-escape-farm,0,3795484.story
Sheriff Says All Exotic Animals Located; Hanna Defends Killings
ZANESVILLE, Ohio—
Muskingum County authorities said on Wednesday that 49 of about 56 exotic animals were killed by deputies after their owner opened the animals cages before committing suicide.
Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz told WBNS-TV that the only remaining animal on the loose, a monkey, was believed dead -- possibly from one of the big cats consuming it.
Only six animals were captured alive and taken to the Columbus Zoo.
Officers spent the night hunting escaped wild animals that included lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, giraffes, camels and bears.
Sheriff Lutz says his department has been told to shoot and kill the monkey on sight because the animal could very well be carrying Herpes-B. Lutz says the animal presents a threat to whomever it comes in contact.
18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, eight bears and a wolf were among the animals that had to be put down, according to Sheriff Lutz.
Wildlife expert Jack Hanna, of the Columbus Zoo, who has been assisting authorities with the capture of the animals spoke after Sheriff Lutz at the press conference, calling the death of the animals, and particularly the Bengal tigers, a tragedy.
According to Hanna, it is estimated that fewer than 2,000 Bengal tigers exist in the wild and he said watching 18 die in a single day is heartbreaking.
While the loss is tragic, Hanna said "it had to be done."
He explained that merely tranquilizing the animals was not an option because it is not immediately effective and the animals can still present a danger to humans.
"You pop 'em, they run, they react in different ways, they go in the bushes, go to sleep," Hanna said, describing the unknowns associated with tranquilizing animals. "That's a death sentence on someone to tranquilize these animals in the dark."
Sheriff Says All Exotic Animals Located; Hanna Defends Killings
ZANESVILLE, Ohio—
Muskingum County authorities said on Wednesday that 49 of about 56 exotic animals were killed by deputies after their owner opened the animals cages before committing suicide.
Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz told WBNS-TV that the only remaining animal on the loose, a monkey, was believed dead -- possibly from one of the big cats consuming it.
Only six animals were captured alive and taken to the Columbus Zoo.
Officers spent the night hunting escaped wild animals that included lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, giraffes, camels and bears.
Sheriff Lutz says his department has been told to shoot and kill the monkey on sight because the animal could very well be carrying Herpes-B. Lutz says the animal presents a threat to whomever it comes in contact.
18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, eight bears and a wolf were among the animals that had to be put down, according to Sheriff Lutz.
Wildlife expert Jack Hanna, of the Columbus Zoo, who has been assisting authorities with the capture of the animals spoke after Sheriff Lutz at the press conference, calling the death of the animals, and particularly the Bengal tigers, a tragedy.
According to Hanna, it is estimated that fewer than 2,000 Bengal tigers exist in the wild and he said watching 18 die in a single day is heartbreaking.
While the loss is tragic, Hanna said "it had to be done."
He explained that merely tranquilizing the animals was not an option because it is not immediately effective and the animals can still present a danger to humans.
"You pop 'em, they run, they react in different ways, they go in the bushes, go to sleep," Hanna said, describing the unknowns associated with tranquilizing animals. "That's a death sentence on someone to tranquilize these animals in the dark."
