Columbus Zoo Rescues Animals

There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the tragic situation regarding the dangerous animals that were released from a privately owned animal menagerie in Zanesville, Ohio. This has been a sad and difficult situation for the staff of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Wilds and we are buoyed by the support we have received and the outpouring of concern for the animals.

The young grizzly bear, two Celebes macaques (monkeys), and three leopards (including a black leopard) that were rescued were transported to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. They are currently being housed in the C. Joseph Cross Animal Health Center where they are receiving around the clock care and monitoring in order to assess their condition and ease their transition. We are happy to report they all seem to be doing very well.

The animals have been through a lot and it is imperative we provide them with adequate time to adjust in a calm, quiet environment. To ensure their health and well being, at this time we are providing photographs and video of the animals rather than allow access to the large number of media outlets who have requested images.

As always, please contact us if you have any questions. While the volume of phone calls, emails and interview requests has been overwhelming, we are doing everything possible to respond as quickly as possible.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• columbus
• zoo
• aquarium
• animals
• rescue
• zanesville
• Ohio
• menagerie
• the Wilds
• exotic
• wild
• conservation
• bear
• leopard

[rooftopconcert]

THANK YOU Columbus Zoo!! So glad that in the midst of this devastating tragedy and loss, there are six bright spots. And thank you so much for posting this and letting us see the rescued animals.

[nancewoz]

Jack Hanna, you are a saint. What a terrible, barbaric act and you provided a ray of hope. Thank you Columbus Zoo staff. Thank you for your dedication.

[gabbiemeows40]

@horseangel37 there still there :)

[horseangel37]

Where are the rescued animals at now?? i had read that the mans wife as trying to get custody of them, but she was denied in court (so glad the judge refused to let her have them) but thats the last i had heard of what had happened to these rescued animals. Are they still at the columbus zoo, or were they transfrerred to other zoos?? im an animal lover and was wanting to know how the rescued animals were doing.

[tanabanana1965]

@sadistkangel - many animals have died while under the care of the Thompsons. They probabily sold some as well. They were charged with animal abuse because they had improperly disposed of animal corpses on their property. There were 56 dangerous animals...none that were not- 6 survived...its not a conspiracy.

[19746996]

This is an OK video.

[mideeone]

@sadistkangel The big cats had to be killed - they WERE too big a risk. But, what happened to the camel and giraffe which CNN reported also resided on that farm? I also heard something about a donkey, too? What happened to those horrible man-eating herbivores??!! There were a total of 50 animals killed, and the only ones revealed to the public were the lions, tigers, bears and a baboon. That doesn't total 50 animals. I'm called uneducated and ignorant for not following along and asking WHY??

[brodieannm]

What a tragedy this is.....Im so happy to hear at least some of the animals will now have a better life.

[sadistkangel]

Keep in mind, these were NOT regular black bears. They are/were EXOTIC there is a difference, y'all need to educate yourselves on EXOTIC animals.

[sadistkangel]

Oops that was exotic animals, not just bears blame the asshole for letting them loose. Not jungle jack or the sheriff or whatever. They were protecting HUMANS, there were certain circumstances involved that made it really hard to trap them and sedate them so before u pass judgement know the facts. what would u do if one of these powerful animals showed up at your door and tried to attack u or one of ur kids?

[sadistkangel]

@smith288 these were not left out in the wild. There is a difference, this man let these exotic bears go free. Plus it was thunderstorming that night, the animals were already freaked out. If u had a bear or a mountain lion showin up at ya backdoor, then i guess ya would know what to do eh?