Zanesville exotic animal release anniversary

In 2011, Terry Thompson released 56 exotic animals, including tigers, lions, bears, and wolves, into the hills outside Zanesville, Ohio. The incident drew significant national attention and occurred before Thompson allegedly killed himself.

Thompson was a Vietnam War veteran, a world-record drag-boat racer, and an animal handler who had appeared on Wild Kingdom. While some neighbors defended him, his family remained estranged from him during his time collecting exotic animals on his 73-acre property.