US police stalk wild animals freed from reserve
Source: Agencies |
October 20, 2011, Thursday
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POLICE with assault rifles yesterday stalked wild animals in the US country-side after it appeared the owner of a reserve set them free before killing himself.
People in the state of Ohio were warned to stay in their homes as police hunted tigers, lions, cheetahs, wolves, giraffes, camels and grizzly bears, among other creatures.
County Sheriff Matt Lutz said it appeared Muskingum County Animal Farm owner Terry Thompson let the animals loose and killed himself. The animals' cages had been opened and the farm's fences left unsecured. It was possible Thompson left the cages open, Lutz said.
Lutz called the animals mature, big and aggressive. "We are not talking about your normal everyday house cat," he said.
He added that a caretaker told authorities the animals had been fed on Monday.
Bears and wolves are among the escaped animals already killed, police said. There were multiple sightings of animals along a nearby highway.
Close to 30 of the 48 escaped animals were shot and killed on Tuesday.
Lutz defended the shootings, saying police had just an hour or so before sunset and were not armed with tranquilizer darts. More than 50 law enforcement officials patrolled the area on Tuesday night, concerned that big cats and bears were still at large.
Lutz claimed one 135-kilogram animal was shot with a tranquilizer dart but the animal "went crazy," ran off and had to be shot.
Meanwhile, flashing signs along highways in the area informed motorists, "Caution exotic animals" and warned them, "Stay in vehicle."
"This is a bad situation," Lutz said.
Neighbor Danielle White, whose father's property abuts the animal reserve, said: "It has always been a fear of mine knowing (Thompson) had all those animals. I have kids. I have heard a male lion roar all night."
She said Thompson had been in legal trouble. Police said he had been released from jail recently.
White added: "He was in hot water because of the animals, because of permits, and (the animals) escaping all the time." A few weeks ago, she said, she had to avoid camels grazing by a freeway.
Neighbor Bill Weiser said of Thompson: "He was pretty unique. He had a different slant on things."
People in the state of Ohio were warned to stay in their homes as police hunted tigers, lions, cheetahs, wolves, giraffes, camels and grizzly bears, among other creatures.
County Sheriff Matt Lutz said it appeared Muskingum County Animal Farm owner Terry Thompson let the animals loose and killed himself. The animals' cages had been opened and the farm's fences left unsecured. It was possible Thompson left the cages open, Lutz said.
Lutz called the animals mature, big and aggressive. "We are not talking about your normal everyday house cat," he said.
He added that a caretaker told authorities the animals had been fed on Monday.
Bears and wolves are among the escaped animals already killed, police said. There were multiple sightings of animals along a nearby highway.
Close to 30 of the 48 escaped animals were shot and killed on Tuesday.
Lutz defended the shootings, saying police had just an hour or so before sunset and were not armed with tranquilizer darts. More than 50 law enforcement officials patrolled the area on Tuesday night, concerned that big cats and bears were still at large.
Lutz claimed one 135-kilogram animal was shot with a tranquilizer dart but the animal "went crazy," ran off and had to be shot.
Meanwhile, flashing signs along highways in the area informed motorists, "Caution exotic animals" and warned them, "Stay in vehicle."
"This is a bad situation," Lutz said.
Neighbor Danielle White, whose father's property abuts the animal reserve, said: "It has always been a fear of mine knowing (Thompson) had all those animals. I have kids. I have heard a male lion roar all night."
She said Thompson had been in legal trouble. Police said he had been released from jail recently.
White added: "He was in hot water because of the animals, because of permits, and (the animals) escaping all the time." A few weeks ago, she said, she had to avoid camels grazing by a freeway.
Neighbor Bill Weiser said of Thompson: "He was pretty unique. He had a different slant on things."
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