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2011 Zanesville, Ohio animal escape

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Coordinates: 39°56′48″N 82°03′45″W / 39.9466772°N 82.0625522°W / 39.9466772; -82.0625522
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2011 Zanesville, Ohio animal escape
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39°56′48″N 82°03′45″W / 39.9466772°N 82.0625522°W / 39.9466772; -82.0625522
Date closedOctober 2011
LocationMuskingum County, Ohio, United States

The 2011 Zanesville, Ohio animal escape occurred on October 18, 2011, when the owner of Muskingum County Animal Farm released multiple exotic animals before dying by suicide. 48 animals were subsequently killed by law enforcement.

Background

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Muskingum County Animal Farm was a private zoo located in Zanesville, Ohio, United States.

The animal farm had been repeatedly reported for inadequate and unsafe housing for the animals, as well as insufficient water and food. Neighbors had previously complained of animals escaping "improper fencing" and causing damage to neighboring property.[1]

The escape

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On October 18, 2011, owner Terry Thompson allegedly set free 50 of his 56 exotic animals before taking his own life by shooting himself in the head. Lions, tigers, bears and wolves were among the animals that escaped and were hunted by local law enforcement out of fear for public safety.[2]

Forty-eight animals were killed by the local police while two were presumed eaten by the other animals.[3][4] The animals confirmed to be dead were eighteen bengal tigers, six black bears, two grizzly bears, two wolves, one macaque monkey, one baboon, three mountain lions, and seventeen african lions (nine males and eight females).[4] Three leopards, a small grizzly bear, and two monkeys were left caged inside Thompson's home. These animals were tranquilized and sent to the Columbus Zoo.[5]

Perpetrator

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Terry Thompson, a Vietnam War veteran, was a lifelong collector of exotic animals. He had acted as an animal handler on Wild Kingdom in 2008, and provided a lion cub to a photoshoot with Heidi Klum.[6] In the years leading up to his death, he went to prison on federal gun charges, was heavily in debt, and his wife had left him.[7]

Reactions

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Jack Hanna, TV wildlife expert and Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, lamented the killings but deemed the police actions necessary.[8] Ohio governor John Kasich called for a temporary moratorium on the sale of exotic animals.[4]

Troy Balderson, Zanesville's representative in the Ohio Senate at the time, sponsored a bill requiring a permit and liability insurance for private owners of dangerous wild animals in the next legislative session.[9][10] The bill was signed into law on June 5th, 2012, and owners were required to have permits by January 1st, 2014. Ohio had not regulated exotic animal ownership previously.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Lynch, Rene (October 21, 2011). "Exotic Animals Endured Abuse, Neglect at Ohio farm, Documents Say". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  2. ^ "Ohio Sheriff: Only One Monkey Remains Missing". CBS News. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  3. ^ Muskal, Michael (January 18, 2012). "Ohio Farmer Spoke of Troubles Before Freeing Exotic Animals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Leckrone, Jim (October 19, 2011). "Ohio Governor to Sign Order on 'Dangerous Animals'". Reuters. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  5. ^ "Bears, Tigers, Lions and Wolves Escape from Ohio Zoo". BBC. October 19, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  6. ^ "Heidi Klum Session Used Animal from Ohio Farm". CBS News. October 21, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "Exotic Animal Owner Terry Thompson: What Happened?". People. October 22, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  8. ^ "Jack Hanna on Zanesville, Ohio, Animals: 'We Would Have Had Carnage'". ABC News. October 19, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  9. ^ "Senate Bill 310 | 129th General Assembly". Ohio Legislature. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Dangerous Wild Animals". Ohio Department of Agriculture. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Johnson, Alan (June 5, 2012). "Exotic animal bill becomes law". Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2024.

Further reading

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