Widow Retrieves Her Exotic Animals
WHITFIELD: This is a troubling day. For some people living near an exotic animal farm in Zanesville, Ohio. It comes six months after the owner released dozens of big game animals. Terry Thompson opened their cages, let the animals go, and then shot himself to death. We're talking lions, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, grizzly bears that stalked the area, stunning neighbors and prompting scores of calls to 911.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 911, what is your emergency?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, there's a lion on Mount Perry Road. There's a big horse barn on the right. I just drove by, and there was a panther there in the streetlights.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We one of those lions that are missing.</s>WHITFIELD: Law officers hunted down and killed 48 of the big animals. Two more were eaten by their fellow farm mates. But five exotic creatures survived the ordeal, and they were still in their cages. Today, they have been handed back to Thompson's widow. Jason Carroll is at the Thompson Exotic Animal Farm in Zanesville. So Jason, what kind of animals are we talking about, those five that survived?</s>JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're talking two primates, two leopards, and a bear. In fact, if you take a look behind me, that's the Thompson property over there, and I believe in one of those cages you might actually be able to make out one of the bears that has been returned. This all happened just about 1:00. There have been a lot of questions, Fredricka, as to why these animals given what happened were returned to Marianne Thompson. Well, simply because the law -- what little of the law has been written in this state of Ohio is on her side. The Columbus Zoo had kept the animals for about six months, the five animals that survived the ordeal. They were under quarantine. Now that that medical quarantine was over, zoo officials have no choice, but to return the animals to Marianne Thompson, who wanted them back. When you look at some of the video of the reunion there, you can see Marianne Thompson actually hugging one of the black leopards, which does show that she does have as many people say out here a relationship with the animals. But also there's a number of -- there's a bit of concern, Fredricka, from the folks who live in this rural community about these animals coming back to this particular area. I spoke to the sheriff's department about it. What he thought about Marianne Thompson having these animals back at this particular time. Listen to what he had to say.</s>SHERIFF MATT LUTZ, MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO: I know how devastated she was when we had to do what we did back in October, and if there is anybody here that she doesn't want anything to happen to those animals. She really cares about those animals. So I'm sure she's going to go above and beyond to make sure those animals are safe and secure.</s>CARROLL: Fredricka, it turns out that the state of Ohio is one of eight states that has one of the basically one of the least restricted laws on the books with regards to owning exotic animals. Other states like Ohio, including Idaho, Nevada, Wisconsin, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama as well. So zoo officials, the sheriff's department, the Humane Society, Department of Agriculture all of these entities concerned about what's hamming with these animals, but there was no choice to return hem it to the woman who loves them, Marianne Thompson -- Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Jason Carroll, thanks so much. Appreciate that. Well, joining me right now Tom Stalf, chief operating officer of the Columbus Zoo where the animals had been kept until today. So is that the case, what Jason just said that there really was no choice? These five animals had to be returned to the owner.</s>TOM STALF, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, COLUMBUS ZOO: Unfortunately, that is correct. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium acted as a resource for the state, and when the state enacted a quarantine order, they were placed in separate areas so our veterinarians and the state veterinarian could keep an eye on them.</s>WHITFIELD: What kind of condition are they in?</s>STALF: Now that the state -- they left the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in perfect condition, and now returned to Marianne Thompson's farm.</s>WHITFIELD: So what kind of concerns do you have now?</s>STALF: There are many concerns. I was there on October 19th, and I saw the horrible conditions. This is no place for any animal, let alone any type of restricted species or dangerous wild animal. In addition, the leopards are a breeding pair. While they were at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, they were separated for quarantine and now if they place together, we're going to have more leopards, and I don't believe Marianne Thompson can care for the animals. And I'm afraid that there's not going to be proper animal care and also not a safe place if you are in that neighborhood.</s>WHITFIELD: Is it the issue of, in your view, a lack of knowledge of how to handle this kind of big game or is it money, because didn't that suicide come in large part because of money problems?</s>STALF: Well, there were many speculations on what happened with Terry Thompson, and we hear how much the Thompson family loves the animals. And I can tell you that going into the home and seeing the primates in small bird cages and the filthy conditions, it clearly didn't look like love to me. It looks like there definitely needs to be some education on the proper care and husbandry for the animals and making sure that they have enriched lives, and a safe place in Zanesville.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Tom Stalf, thanks so much for your time. Appreciate it. All right, less than 24 hours from now, President Barack Obama and the first lady make a pretty big move in this re-election campaign. It comes as new polls show that he is neck and neck with Mitt Romney in a couple of key states. Plus, you are about to see part of my interview with Chuck, the pianist for the "Rolling Stones," the "Almond Brothers," the list goes on. Even recently, John Mayer, don't miss it.