The Zanesville Animal Massacre was a significant incident that occurred on October 18, 2011, in Zanesville, Ohio, United States.[1] The event involved the release of 50 exotic animals from a Muskingum County Private Farm by its owner, Terry Thompson, who subsequently died by suicide.[2] The incident led to the killing of 49 animals by law enforcement to ensure public safety, prompting widespread media attention and legislative changes regarding exotic animal ownership in Ohio.[3][4]
The Muskingum County Animal Farm was a private zoo owned by Terry Thompson, a 62-year-old Vietnam War veteran, pilot, and exotic animal collector.[1] Located on a 73-acre property west of Zanesville, Ohio, the farm housed a variety of exotic animals, including 18 bengal tigers, 17 lions, 6 black bears, 2 grizzly bears, 3 cougars, 2 wolves, 1 baboon, 3 leopards, 2 monkeys, and other species such as giraffes and camels.[5][6] Thompson began collecting exotic animals in 1977, purchasing a lion cub for his wife, Marian, and expanded his collection over the years through auctions, rescues, and possible illegal breeding.[7] The farm had a history of issues, with the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office responding to 35 complaints since 2004 regarding escaped animals, inadequate enclosures, and insufficient food and water for the animals.[8] Thompson had been cited for animal cruelty and neglect but faced no convictions due to insufficient evidence.[9] At the time of the incident, Thompson was facing financial difficulties, owing over $68,000 in unpaid taxes and liens, and had recently been released from a year-long prison sentence for possessing unregistered firearms.[10] Prior to the incident, the 2010 documentary film, The Elephant in the Living Room, directed by Michael Webber and featuring public safety officer Tim Harrison, highlighted the dangers of private exotic animal ownership in Ohio and called for stricter regulations.[11][12] Webber and Harrison advocated for state legislation to regulate the sale, breeding, and ownership of dangerous exotic animals, speaking publicly at the Ohio State Capitol in Columbus in October 2010 alongside Humane Society of the United States CEO Wayne Pacelle to urge lawmakers and the media for reforms.[13][14] In a review of the film, The New York Times described Ohio as "just one enormous, unfenced zoo."[12] Despite these efforts, an executive order issued by outgoing Governor Ted Strickland in January 2011 banning new ownership of exotic animals was allowed to expire in April 2011 under incoming Governor John Kasich, who cited enforcement issues.[15][1]
Incident
On October 18, 2011, at approximately 5:00p.m., Terry Thompson released 50 of his 56 exotic animals by cutting the locks on their cages before taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.[2][16] The released animals included 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, 6 black bears, 2 grizzly bears, 3 cougars, 2 wolves, and 1 baboon. The incident was first reported by Sam Kopchak, a neighbor who noticed a bear and a lion on Thompson's property while tending to his horse.[17] Kopchak alerted his mother, Dolores, who called 911, initially reporting the presence of a bear and a lion chasing horses.[17] As deputies arrived, they discovered Thompson's body near the empty cages, with a bite wound on his head, reportedly from a white Bengal tiger.[7] The deputies faced immediate challenges as the animals, some weighing up to 300 pounds, displayed aggressive behavior and were roaming near residential areas and highways.[18] Due to the imminent threat to public safety, Sheriff Matt Lutz ordered the use of lethal force to prevent the animals from dispersing further, especially as nightfall approached, making tranquilization difficult.[19] Law enforcement, including the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol, hunted the animals in rainy fields, killing 49 of them. Six animals—three leopards, a grizzly bear, and two monkeys—were captured alive and taken to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.[20]
Response and aftermath
The incident prompted immediate public safety measures. Schools in the Zanesville area closed, residents were advised to stay indoors, and highway signs displayed warnings such as "Caution: Exotic Animals; Stay in Your Cars."[3] No human injuries were reported, which was described as a "miracle" given the scale of the event.[21] However, the killing of 49 animals, including 18 endangered Bengal tigers, drew criticism from animal advocacy groups, who argued that tranquilizers could have been used.[16] Sheriff Lutz and experts, including Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, defended the decision, citing the immediate danger and logistical challenges of tranquilizing large, aggressive animals in the dark.[4] The Zanesville incident exposed Ohio's lack of regulations on exotic animal ownership, one of only seven states with no such laws at the time.[4] Prior to the incident, an executive order by former Governor Ted Strickland restricting exotic animal ownership had expired under Governor John Kasich.[4] Three days after the incident, Kasich issued a new executive order restricting wild animal auctions and directing state agencies to enforce existing laws.[1] On June 5, 2012, Kasich signed the Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2014.[4] The law prohibited private ownership, sale, or trade of dangerous animals, including lions, tigers, bears, and wolves, with exemptions for owners who met strict care standards, obtained permits, and purchased insurance.[4] The legislation also established a 20,000-square-foot holding facility for seized or surrendered exotic animals, which housed over 200 animals, including 107 alligators, between 2013 and 2017.[15] The law significantly reduced exotic animal ownership in Ohio, dropping to approximately one-sixth of previous levels by 2017.[15]
Impact and legacy
The Zanesville Animal Escape brought national and international attention to the dangers of unregulated exotic animal ownership.[11] It spurred animal advocacy groups, such as the Humane Society of the United States and the World Wildlife Fund, to call for stricter regulations nationwide.[9] The incident also influenced the passage of the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act in 2022, which banned private ownership of big cats and hands-on interactions like cub petting.[6] The event remains a significant case study in public safety and animal welfare, with Ohio's regulations serving as a model for other states.[15] However, some response teams established post-incident, such as the Dangerous Wild Animal Response Teams in Ohio's 88 counties, were disbanded by 2018 as lawmakers deemed them unnecessary with new regulations in place.[3] Following the incident, media outlets and commentators noted that the documentary The Elephant in the Living Room had essentially forecasted such a tragedy, highlighting the risks of exotic pet ownership in Ohio a year earlier.[13][22][23]
Controversies and speculation
Thompson's motives for releasing the animals remain unclear. Some speculated he was motivated by financial distress, an estranged marriage, or mental health issues following his prison sentence.[10] Conspiracy theories, particularly among exotic animal owners, suggested involvement of animal rights activists or foul play, though no evidence supported these claims.[8] Reports also noted Thompson's body was partially consumed by a tiger, with some alleging he scattered chicken parts to attract the animals, though these details remain unconfirmed.[7]
In popular culture
The 2010 documentary film, The Elephant in the Living Room, highlighted Ohio's lax regulations on exotic pets and gained significant attention and discussion in the media following the Zanesville escape due to its prescient warnings.[13][14][24][25][12][22] A 2012 GQ article by Chris Heath titled "51 Dead in Ohio," exploring the incident and the exotic animal trade.[7] A 2012 Esquire article by Chris Jones, "Animals: The Horrific Zanesville Zoo Massacre."[19] An episode of Fatal Attractions (Season 3, Episode 2, "Ohio Massacre") on Amazon Prime. A 2025 YouTube documentary, "The Zanesville Massacre: Animal Owner Nearly Kills a Community."[11]
↑ Exotic Animal Tragedy - The Elephant in the Living Room. YouTube, October 20, 2011. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYcja3-gWyQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYcja3-gWyQ</a>
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