45 animals killed after owner’s last bizarre act

Police and wildlife officials in Ohio launched a big game hunt after the owner of a wildlife reserve set loose dozens of lions, tigers, bears and wolves in a bizarre last act before committing suicide.

At least 45 animals were tracked and shot by marksmen. Residents in Zanesville were urged to remain indoors last night as officials continued to hunt for three animals that remained unaccounted for – a mountain lion, a grizzly bear and a monkey.

Meanwhile, police were trying to establish why the preserve’s owner, Terry Thompson, 62, who was recently freed from prison on firearms charges, released the animals before killing himself.

“From our preliminary inquiries, we feel that Mr Thompson died from a self-inflicted wound and we also feel that he released these animals at some point,” said Matthew Lutz, sheriff of Muskingum County. “We are not looking for suspects at this point.”

Authorities were dealing with a “highly volatile” situation that had forced education officials to close schools and which saw motorists dialling 911 in panic after witnessing animals running alongside the interstate highway.

Swat teams, sheriff’s deputies and staff called in from Columbus Zoo, 50 miles away, used night-vision equipment to track the escaped animals.

Officers found the remains of a monkey that had been eaten by a lion, while one resident called to report that a tiger was chasing his horse. They also detained two men who were caught trying to steal the body of a shot lion.

“If there is a good thing to this situation it’s that we haven’t had anybody hurt,” Sheriff Lutz said.

Jack Hanna, the celebrity animal expert and former Columbus Zoo director called in to assist the operation, defended the sheriff’s decision to use deadly rounds instead of tranquillisers.

“Human life is at the forefront and you can’t tranquillise animals in the dark, you don’t know where they’ll go,” he said.

“I’m sorry to say we had to protect the humans. The sheriff did the right thing. What was he supposed to do with tigers and leopards out there?”

Zoo staff recovered several animals unharmed, including an orangutan and other primates found still caged inside the house at the 46-acre reserve.