Zoos Shocked by Ohio Incident

Natural Bridge, VA - The release of 56 animals in Zanesville, Ohio turned the rural town into a zoo, and had the zoo business abuzz all day.

As of Wednesday evening, these are the latest numbers of killed and captured animals: deputies killed 48 and captured six.

An Ohio sheriff says the animals' owner, who carries a criminal record, freed the animals then killed himself.
Neighbors speculate the owner freed the animals to get revenge on them and local law enforcement. Now, we may never know if there's truth to that statement because the owner took his own life. But, we do know zoo owners have been talking about this all day.

Gretchen Mogensen cares for her Bengal Tigers at Natural Bridge Zoo like they are her kids. To hear an Ohio man set 18 of his Bengals free is a shock.

"I have never heard of anything like this happening. It's a once in a lifetime thing - I'm hoping," said Mogensen.
Mogensen says every animal is unique, and every animal will respond to freedom in its own unique way.

"Is it going to run and hide underneath a car, is it going to go up to the first person it sees? You don't know what it's going to do because it's never been set in that kind of a circumstance. It's going to be up in the air; you are going to have to handle it as it comes," said Mogensen.
 
In its forty years, Natural Bridge, fortunately, hasn't seen one escape. But, it's got all the precautions, including tranquilizers and a double-fence that puts one more barrier between the animals and the people.

The Ohio incident leaves a scar on the zoo business, says Zoo Director Karl Mogensen.
 
"You may have one bad apple in a barrel that just gets all the publicity and, unfortunately, looks very bad for us," said Karl Mogensen.

States have different laws regulating exotic animals. Ohio has some of the nation's weakest restrictions and some of the highest number of injuries and deaths.

"Some states are a little lax. In other words you shouldn't be able to go out and buy a baby tiger as a pet or a baby lion. It's the same situation, you shouldn't go out and be drinking and you shouldn't go out and buy guns unless you are a handler," said Mogensen.

Because wild animals in the wrong care can be dangerous weapons.

The situation is much better in Ohio as of Wednesday evening. The Ohio Sheriff says residents are out of danger and schools can re-open. But, the Humane Society of the United States is criticizing Ohio's governor for allowing a statewide ban on the buying and selling of exotic pets to expire.