Lions, tigers and bears! And wolves, monkies and other exotic animals!

**Dudebro** · 10-19-2011, 03:58 PM

For some reason the news outlets didn't wanna go with the obvious Wizard of Oz reference, what a pity. I guess the story is kinda tragic so it's understandable.

BBC News - Bears, tigers, lions and wolves escape from Ohio zoo

The title is a little misleading. The animals didn't escape they were set loose by the owner before he killed himself and it wasn't a zoo. I didn't see any mention of motive or intent but it's pretty obvious that he knew the possible consequences of his actions so it's hard to have any sympathy for him. He also has a laundry list of criminal charges including some for animal cruelty(allowing his livestock to starve to death because he couldn't climb the hill to feed them) and reports say he was close to losing the animals anyways.

So besides being a crazy story in general what makes it interesting for me is Jack Hanna got involved. He's the retired owner of the nearby Columbus Zoo and well known media personality for his work with animals. Apparently he rode out asap and helped the local cops hunt and detain/kill the animals. It may be in poor taste but damn I wish they recorded that for one of his programs, he's just awesome at what he does. According to Wikipedia he had a semi auto shotgun with him called "FireCrotch". I hope that last part is true

There's already some backlash about the shoot to kill order given by the local authorities but Mr Hanna backs them up with his expert opinion-

Quote:

US nature TV host Jack Hanna, a former director of Columbus Zoo, in the nearby Ohio state capital, said tranquilising animals in the dark was incredibly dangerous, and told reporters that "the sheriff did the right thing".
"You cannot tranquilise an animal like this, a bear or a leopard or a tiger [at night]," Mr Hanna told ABC before the news conference.
"If you do that, the animal gets very excited, it goes and hides, and then we have [police officers] in danger of losing their life, and other people."

Lots of weird stuff in this story right?

**Josephjo** · 10-19-2011, 05:29 PM

Just watched this on the news back here in England. The Sheriff and Jack Hanna are quite an unlikley Double act.

It showed some guy who they called a trophy hunter man handling a dead Bear onto the back of his truck. For some reason I thought of Kong!

Have they captured the rogue Monkey yet?

**samejamesbond** · 10-19-2011, 06:04 PM

That is a strange article.

I don't think they should have shot the animals, but they did what they had
to do. Too bad there was no other option.

**Dudebro** · 10-19-2011, 06:05 PM

Last I heard the monkey is still on the loose along with, I think, a wolf. I bet neither will be very easy to find now after a rainy night full of headlights and gunshots, they're long gone.

@SJB- From what I heard they did try to avoid killing them when possible but the conditions made that almost impossible. It was nighttime, near a rural area and raining. A neighbor of the supposed zoo said that he saw a tiger chasing a horse before police were even called. I think this time the kill order was justified.

**samejamesbond** · 10-19-2011, 06:12 PM

I know, I'm not saying it was unjustified, just saying it's a shame there was no other way.

**Kong** · 10-20-2011, 01:21 PM

You would feel so crazy if you saw a tiger chasing a horse in America and had no idea why. And the guy that answers the phone when you call it in would think you were crazy or a prank caller.

**Slime Slayer** · 10-20-2011, 08:24 PM

I saw a photo of the aftermath, all the animals were just piled up, sad.

**Enemy Ace** · 10-20-2011, 10:25 PM

Lions and tigers and bears! And more! Oh my!

**alohaex** · 10-20-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevencassidy13

I saw a photo of the aftermath, all the animals were just piled up, sad.

Yeah just saw that to what a waste of endangered species sure it had to be done but would have rather have seen them placed in the city zoo or something.

---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudebro

Last I heard the monkey is still on the loose along with, I think, a wolf. I bet neither will be very easy to find now after a rainy night full of headlights and gunshots, they're long gone.

Last I heard the missing lion ate that poor monkey

**Dudebro** · 10-20-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

would have rather have seen them placed in the city zoo or something.

Rest assured that if there was an option Jack Hanna would've made it happen. He's not one to just give up on animals, quite the opposite. His support and thoughtful interviews really helped keep the outrage down. Without him people would be unfairly treating those cops like trigger happy morons.

Quote:

Last I heard the missing lion ate that poor monkey

I never heard that was it in the news? It seems kinda unusual for a monkey to be caught by a lion unless it was old or just really scared. Even then you figure it would go up a tree.

**alohaex** · 10-20-2011, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudebro

Rest assured that if there was an option Jack Hanna would've made it happen. He's not one to just give up on animals, quite the opposite. His support and thoughtful interviews really helped keep the outrage down. Without him people would be unfairly treating those cops like trigger happy morons.

I never heard that was it in the news? It seems kinda unusual for a monkey to be caught by a lion unless it was old or just really scared. Even then you figure it would go up a tree.

True if he was not there those cops would be the most hated people in that town right now. Yeah it was in the news here they said the lion ate the monkey.

**Dudebro** · 10-20-2011, 11:53 PM

Not just that town the outrage would be all over facebook and other stuff like that. I just wish I knew if he volunteered or if they called him. Either way he's a true badass. "Lions and tigers on the loose? I'll be right there!"

**alohaex** · 10-21-2011, 12:43 AM

True it took a lot of bravery to face all those animals

**RU Joe** · 10-23-2011, 02:14 PM

Yes it was brave, but in situations like that you either 'fight or flight' - this is the Human way, our two possible reactions.
If you run, it doesn't mean you're weak, it means that in your own mind's assessment of your ability to tackle the problem, it voted you not worthy and therefore you feel compelled to retreat from the situation.

If you stay and fight that means that some part of your mind believes that you are able to tackle the problem.
The only real danger there is if you happen to be listening to your Ego by mistake.

**Dudebro** · 10-23-2011, 02:46 PM

Well in this situation the fight response was more about protection other people, the people who lived there. I don't think the police had the option of flight.