Dead animals are seen on Terry Thompson's property where exotic animals were kept in Zanesville, Ohio (Pic: Reuters)
SHOT animals lay strewn across a field yesterday after a zoo’s owner opened their cages and let them free.
The beasts were among grizzly bears, wolves, cheetahs and tigers which brought panic to a town after being freed from the 40-acre farm.
Most of the 50-plus animals were shot by police with assault rifles while the creatures roamed nearby streets and countryside.
Residents were told to stay indoors and schools were closed as officers hunted the remainder.
The scare was caused when zoo owner Terry Thompson left the beasts’ cages open before killing himself.
Sheriff Matt Lutz warned: “The animals are mature, very big and aggressive.”
Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz speaks to the media about exotic animals loose
US police found Mr Thompson’s body when they went to his farm after getting reports of creatures running free in Zanesville, Ohio, on Tuesday. More than 50 officers spent the night hunting them down and were under orders to shoot to kill as it was not safe to tranquillise them in the dark.
There were multiple sightings of the beasts along a nearby highway and flashing road signs told motorists “Caution exotic animals” and “Stay in vehicle”.
A dead lion lays by the fence on Terry Thompson's farm
Sheriff Lutz would not say how Mr Thompson died but revealed that when deputies arrived at Muskingum County Animal Farm several aggressive animals were near his body and had to be shot.
Orangutans and chimps were in his home but those were still in their cages. Officers saw many other animals outside their cages and shot them on sight.Zoo neighbour Danielle White said that a few weeks ago she had to avoid camels grazing on the side of a road.
She added: “It’s always been a fear of mine knowing he had all those animals. He was in hot water because of them, because of permits, and the creatures escaping all the time.” Officials said Mr Thompson had permits to keep four bears. Ohio has some of the US’s weakest restrictions on exotic pets.