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The Zanesville Massacre — On October 18, 2011, exotic animal hoarder Terry Thompson released 50 large predators into the Ohio town, before shooting himself in the head. Police would be forced to hunt each animal down, in what would become one of the largest exotic animal culls in American history. Image 1 — Animal carcasses are accounted for by police after the culling. In all : 18 tigers, 17 lions, 6 black bears, 2 grizzly bears, 2 wolves, 3 cougars, a macaque, and a baboon were shot by police. A further 3 leopards and 3 macaques were found caged in deplorable conditions within Thompson’s home. These animals were transferred to the Columbus Zoo. Image 2 — Rows of empty cages on Thompson’s 73 acre farm, photographed by police helicopter. Unable to afford feeding the animals and his marriage in shambles, Thompson released 50 of his 56 exotic animals before stripping naked, scattering raw chicken around himself, and shooting himself in the head with a .357 magnum. He left no note, but all evidence suggests he intended for his beloved animals to eat him. Image 3 — A caution sign warns motorists on I-70 of the ongoing cull. At least one tiger was struck by a passing car. Image 4 — Terry Thompson in his home, holding a newborn Bengal tiger. Thompson, a 62 year old Vietnam veteran, obsessively hoarded both exotic animals and firearms on his 73 acre property. Though no laws existed to restrict his exotic animal ownership, Thompson was finally arrested in 2010 for animal neglect, when some cows he boarded in a nearby field starved to death. He eventually served 10 months in federal prison on these charges, along with possession of unregistered firearms. When he returned home from prison, his wife had separated from him, placing most of the animals in new cages so Terry could no longer tell them apart. The theory goes that Terry would have rather seen his animals shot by police than fall into the hands of his ex-wife.