Wolves, Cheetahs, and Grizzly Bears Among Zoo Escapees; No Word on What @BronxZoosCobra Thinks

There could be as many as 48 animals running wild in Zanesville, Ohio right now. While this might sound like an exciting (if not comical) moment for one of the sleepiest states in the nation, the animals that have escaped are no laughing matter. They include grizzly bears, black bears, cheetahs, tigers, lions, and my favorite, wolves. ABC News has the scoop, saying that the Muskingum County Sheriff's Department believes that its officers may have “shot as many as 25 of the animals so far.” ABC News quoted Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz, who spoke at a news conference yesterday evening. “These are wild animals, wild animals that you would see on TV in Africa,” said Mutz, advising that people stay inside until the animals have been rounded up. Terry Thompson, the owner of the preserve where the animals escaped, was found dead. Mutz said that it was not clear how he died. “This is a bad situation,” he said. “It's been a bad situation for a long time and the last thing we want to do is have any of our public hurt.” When authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered that the animals' pens had been opened. They have since decided to leave some food behind, hoping that the animals will return on their own. According to ABC News, police have described the animals as being “mature, very big and aggressive.” At press time, @BronxZoosCobra had not responded to a request for comment. Follow me @LouisBedigian