Lions and Tigers, OH MY

This is a really difficult situation, these animals are wild, they are predators so the fear of attack is there. On the other hand they have been kept in captivity for some time at least, their hunting skills will not be honed so it unlikely they will attack large prey eg humans, but they do associate humans to food as they were fed by humans and even being playful they are large they have claws so they can do a lot of damage. The fact that the police started shooting means they did not know what to do with so many wild animals, it could be possible to tranquillize them, even though this can be just as dangerous for the animals as if the doses are not correctly managed they can suffer various reactions even heart failure. The animals though are paying the ultimate price for something that is not their fault, they were kept in captivity in an area not designed for it, by someone who unfortunately cannot explain why this happened. Was it some personal issue and he allowed them to go free for some reason (but then why not let out the chimps), or did something go wrong with the locking mechanism and he did not want to suffer. The problem with this is that knowing that these animals existed, that there was a preserve with high risk animals the police did not have contingency plans for something going wrong. This is a loose, loose situation, no-one comes out of this well.

Thoroughrob I have been following this story on the news today..He is a 35 yr old who just got out of prison..how is it possible he had this palce? I know Ohio is loose in their exotic animal regulations but good grief I bet after this there will be legislation..or should be..I am glad you were not in harms way.

no sure havent gla dyou arent close to it

Only when I would visit the smoky mountains I would hear watch out for the bears.Like you I am glad I don't live around there.

I saw that article and read it with interest. The owner apparently killed himself because he could not get his permit to keep the animals renewed, so he turned most of them loose and then did himself in. Was that the one?

How can that happen? Was the owner part of an animal Circus? How can anyone let dangerous animals be part of someones´s normal household? I ask myself so many questions after reading your post. Fortunatly in my country that could not happen. There are rules about having wild animals with us. I don´t even think many people have lots of cats or dogs as I see on TV in a grosse show about people who accumulate dogs, cats and other domestic animals and care for them above their family needs.

yes we heard it hear in Montreal too and they killed so many of the animals, such a waste when they should have been sent to zoos.

ONly when I would go to the smoky mountains I would hear watch out for the black bears that would be the only warning I would hear. And I agree with you I am glad I dont live around there.

Nope no wild animals warnings although they did find an aligaotor, a very large snake, and an animal that is like an aligator is some guys basement in my city, which is a small suburb this was kind of an interesting story, the animals did not get out though, a neighbor found out about them and called the police. The kids did have to stay inside and not go out for recess at school once because their was an escaped criminal in the area, but they caught him before the end of the school day. That is all pretty exciting for our area.

Hi Rob, saw this on the news this morn. I'm sure it's very scary for the folks that live there. Hope they are able to get them all where they need to be. I'm anxious to see if they didn't kill the ownwer. Thanks for your well wishes on cyntia discusiion about me.

I could not believe this story and I am sadden the police were told to kill the animals! They killed over 50 animals! Bengel Tigers,Bears,Lions and other animals! Only a few were caught and taken to the Columbus Zoo! The owner of all this animals was able to get this animals with no problem! Ohio has no real law against people owning exotic animals! It is crazy! The man who owned all this animals let all the animlas loose and then killed himself! This man was in trouble with the law in the past for neglest,abuse and letting animals roam the neighborhood! People have no idea how he was able to feed these animals! He never let people visit the place! I wish all the animals were saved and taken to other places! The shooting of all these animals,some endangered,is an out rage! I also am appauled Ohio lets every day people own exotic animals and in April the govenor did not do anything to pass a bill to stop people being able to own exotic animals! Something needs to be done! If not we could hear more stories like this in the future!

The only warning I received is public storm signal...We don't have those kind of animals in our country.