Terry Thompson uncaged almost 50 creatures from his farm near Zanesville before killing himself on Tuesday (18Oct11).
After hearing the animals, which included lions, bears, tigers and monkeys, had been let loose, officials from the Muskingum County sheriff’s department shot most of the wild beasts to protect the public.
But the move has met with criticism by many stars, who are taking to Twitter.com to mourn the losses.
Dushku writes, “The man who went postal & released the animal farm in Ohio… 49 deceased exotic animals.. so absolutely sad”, and Mark Ronson’s sister Samantha adds, “Did they really have to kill them?”
Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba writes, “So upset about what happened in OHIO!!! I think they could have tried a little harder to save the animals. It wasn’t their fault.”
But TV wildlife expert Jack Hanna has defended the sheriff’s department for their decision, telling ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, “I’m sorry to say, but what the sheriff did had to be done. Otherwise, we would have had carnage out here in Zanesville, Ohio.”
