Mass Murder of Wild Animals in Ohio. Horrific.

48 animals dead including a variety of wild felines and bears...

Amid expressions of horror and revulsion at the killing of dozens of wild animals in Ohio — and photographs of their bloody carcasses — animal rights advocates agreed there was little local authorities could have done to save the dangerous creatures once they began roaming the countryside after their owner released them before taking his own life.

Sheriff's deputies shot 48 animals — including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions — after Terry Thompson, owner of the private Muskingum County Animal Farm near Zanesville, threw their cages open Tuesday and then committed suicide.

Thompson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and also had a bite wound on the head that appeared to have come from a large cat, such as a Bengal tiger, county Sheriff Matt Lutz said Thursday morning.

It appeared the bite occurred quickly after Thompson shot himself and that his body had been dragged a short distance, Lutz said.

"What a tragedy," said veterinarian Barb Wolfe, of The Wilds animal preserve sponsored by the Columbus Zoo. "We knew that ... there were so many dangerous animals at this place that eventually something bad would happen, but I don't think anybody really knew it would be this bad."

The sheriff would not speculate why Thompson took his own life. "We don't know what he was thinking," said Lutz, who added that finding out the reasons why wasn't the focus on his investigation.

Neighbors made it clear that Thompson loved the animals and would not have wanted them hurt.

"He liked animals more than he did people. He really did," said Fred Polk, whose farm is within sight of Thompson's home.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• wild
• animal
• killing
• murder
• massacre
• ohio
• zanesville
• police
• shooting
• life
• tiger
• bengal
• grizzly
• bear
• monkey
• zhebra
• rifle
• automatic
• guns
• suicidal
• Terry Thompson
• baboon
• wolf
• wolve
• on the loose
• suicide
• debts
• serial
• Gray Wolf
• Hunting
• Animals
• Zoo
• Lions
• animal kill
• ohio killing
• animal murder

[mrslovelace]

You didn't add the tiger cubs, the emu, or other birds that were also slaughtered.

[firegod001]

@lindsntwins Which part? No, I wasn't there, but most of this stuff is VERY obvious. The police gave us a lot of the facts I am going on. They admitted killing more than half of these animals as soon as they pulled onto the property. Bunch of pansies couldn't have tried to secure the area, kill the ones that wandered off the property real close to people, and saved the rest could they? No, they went on their little redneck safari instead.

[Grizzlyonlydipper]

Yeah the should darted them but their lives are shit in cages anyways

[jdlbify]

bulllshit i live n zanesville if tht biggass tiger was n ur bedroom tell me you would shot it talkin bout they are just cat yea 900lbs cat tht runs 90mps stfu

[primetome5000]

this is not right save

[firegod001]

@Softballgirl336 No, that is NOT what happened. Before a vet tried to use a tranq, a bunch of gungho morons killed twenty some of the animals as soon as they got on the property and realize the animals were loose. Never mind that no people were around and that the animals weren't fleeing the property UNTIL they were being butchered by brain dead retards with guns. Never mind the fact that this could have been handled in a much better manner. Just kill em all! Idiots.

[firegod001]

@MITexersize We aren't doing that, moron. What we're doing is saying that valuing human life over animal life to THIS extent is wrong. You don't kill a dog if she barks at you. You don't beat a cat if he looks at you like he might scratch you, and you don't slaughter this many animals because you fear something might happen. You take the proper precautions, kill the ones you have to and safe the rest. That was NOT done here. Now fucker off if you're going to misrepresent us.

[lindsntwins]

@firegod001 how do you know? were you there?

[lindsntwins]

@ruqia7450 yes presidint.