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As a little update to what I wrote yesterday it now appears that"
On Wednesday, Mr Lutz (the policeman in control of the operation) said police believe they have now accounted for all 56 animals except one monkey.
The animals' owner, Terry Thompson, was found dead at the zoo, and police believe he killed himself.
Mr Lutz said a preliminary investigation suggested Mr Thompson left fences open at the farm.
Also, in a press release, the animal welfare organisation PETA said that"
Terry Thompson, the now-deceased owner of the Zanesville facility that these animals escaped from, had been convicted of cruelty to animals. PETA had also filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) about Thompson's illegal activities, including exhibiting animals without a license and declawing tiger cubs in violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Thompson is just one example of many. Earlier this year, notorious animal exhibitor Sam Mazzola died, leaving behind dozens of exotic animals, including bears who were confined to cramped cages in a dark barn. Before he died, PETA had called on authorities to seek reckless homicide charges against Mazzola because of the death of a man who had been mauled by one of his bears, and an investigation was underway at the time of his death.
In their story about the tragedy yesterday, the BBC mentioned the allegations against Mazzola but did not mention who had been making them.
