Should the Ohio Exotic Animals Have Been Shot?
Scene described as "Noah's Ark wrecking" raises questions about laws, safety.
On Tuesday, Terry W. Thompson killed himself after releasing dozens of exotic animals from their cages at his Muskingum County Animal Farm near Zanesville (map).
As a result, 48 animals were shot and killed by law officers called to the scene. One witness described the aftermath as "Noah's Ark wrecking."
By Wednesday evening the animal death toll included 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, 6 black bears, 3 mountain lions, 2 grizzlies, a baboon, and a wolf.
Only six animals from the farm—three leopards, a grizzly bear, and two monkeys—were captured alive.
(Watch National Geographic video on the exotic-animal escape in Ohio.)
Most experts agreed that the Ohio officers had little choice but to kill
