Outbreak fears as monkey remains on the loose in Ohio after animal park owner dies

[Pathfinder]

Outbreak fears as monkey remains on the loose in Ohio after animal park owner dies <!-- google_ad_section_end(name=story_headline) --><!-- // .story-headline -->

From: <CITE>NewsCore </CITE>
<CITE></CITE>October 20, 2011 8:26AM

A MONKEY, possibly carrying a serious disease, was the last animal still on the loose in Ohio today - a day after the owner of an exotic wildlife park apparently set free dozens of tigers, bears and lions before taking his own life, authorities said. <!-- google_ad_section_end(name=story_introduction) --><!-- // .story-intro --><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=story_body, weight=high) -->

The Muskingum County Sheriff's office announced today that the body of a wolf had been recovered and now only a monkey remains on the loose, WBNS-TV reported.

Officials from the Columbus Zoo have advised that the primate be shot because it is likely carrying Herpes B, a disease that "can result in severe neurologic impairment" or be fatal, officials said.

Sheriff Matt Lutz said that a total of 56 animals escaped from the Zanseville farm last night - up from earlier estimates of about 48 to 50.
Forty-nine animals have been killed, including two wolves, six black bears, two grizzly bears, 18 Bengal tigers, three mountain lions and nine male lions, eight female lions and one baboon. The animals have been "buried on the property," Sheriff Lutz said.

Three leopards, a grizzly bear and two monkeys were taken to the Columbus Zoo.

Autopsy results on the owner of the wildlife park, Terry Thompson, are still pending, Sheriff Lutz said. But the sheriff reiterated that police believe that Mr Thompson, 62, opened the pens and gates at the nature reserve before taking his own life.

More...
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/br...-park-owner-dies/story-e6frf7jx-1226171347211

 

[Emily]

Re: Outbreak fears as monkey remains on the loose in Ohio after animal park owner dies

Ohio has very weak laws regulating private ownership of wild animals. There was a working group that was supposed to have come up with new guidelines by late this fall, but they were too late to prevent this tragedy.
http://ohiodnr.com/tabid/23387/WildAnimals.aspx

There was another story in the news recently about a black leopard that has been loose for at least a couple of months in the Dayton, OH, area. Nobody even knows where it came from, though a specialist has been trying to catch it. Here is a story on that with a video.
http://abc.daytonsnewssource.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wkef_vid_3133.shtml?wap=0

The AVMA issued a press release in response to the situation in Ohio:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-light-of-ohio-wildlife-tragedy-avma-warns-against-owning-wild-animals-132140133.html
In Light of Ohio Wildlife Tragedy, AVMA Warns Against Owning Wild Animals
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/

http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/wild_animal_ownership.asp

AVMA policy

Private Ownership of Wild Animals
(Approved by the AVMA Executive Board November 2006)


The AVMA recommends limiting or prohibiting private ownership (as defined below) of indigenous and non-native wild animals that pose a significant risk to public health, domestic animal health, or the ecosystem, as well as those species whose welfare is unacceptably compromised. Except under special circumstances (such as recognized conservation and research programs) , the AVMA especially supports regulatory efforts to prohibit private ownership, and the importation for the purpose of private ownership, of non-native animals that threaten public health, domestic animal health, indigenous wild animal health, agriculture, or the ecosystem, as well as those species whose welfare is unacceptably compromised.

Definitions:

Private ownership ? Ownership by individuals, non-public entities or institutions that are exempt from the Animal Welfare Act.
Wild ? Species that have not yet been subjected to domestication or that may be in the process of being domesticated. These species may be indigenous to North America or non-native (exotic).
Non-native (Exotic) ? Originally imported species; not native to North America; not domesticated.
Indigenous ? Native to North America.

 

[Emily]

Re: Outbreak fears as monkey remains on the loose in Ohio after animal park owner dies

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44961202/ns/us_news-life/#.Tp_-knK3xio

The last missing animal, a monkey thought to be carrying a herpes virus, was found to have been eaten by one of the large cats, the sheriff said late Wednesday.

 

[Emily]

Re: Outbreak fears as monkey remains on the loose in Ohio after animal park owner dies

Some public health issues remain to be resolved in this case. The Ohio State Department of Agriculture put the surviving animals under quarantine at the zoo. They are not eligible for release to the surviving owner until testing is done.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Ohio-zoo-Quarantine-testing-won-t-start-for-weeks-2244939.php

Ohio zoo: Quarantine testing won't start for weeks
Updated 11:02 a.m., Monday, October 31, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's state veterinarian says testing of a half-dozen exotic animals that survived release after their owner killed himself won't begin for several weeks.

Dr. Tony Forshey said Monday the animals must be anesthetized to have blood drawn. He's worried they're too weak to survive the procedure....


Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/artic...n-t-start-for-weeks-2244939.php#ixzz1cRtEPsCz

There is a sheriff in the adjoining county concerned about another lion and bear compound:

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2011/10/27/new-lexington-animal-cages-assessed.html

Sheriff To Determine Safety of Perry County Exotic Animal Cages
Thursday October 27, 2011 5:51 PM