Zookeeper sets beasts free then kills himself

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Tragic ... bodies of tigers, bears and lions are gathered together

A CRAZED zookeeper freed 56 wild animals including tigers, lions, cheetahs, wolves and grizzly bears into a town — then shot himself dead.

Cops had to kill 49 of the beasts with their handguns.

Others were reported up to ten miles away. One big cat was hit by a driver as flashing highway signs warned: "Caution, exotic animals" and "Stay in vehicle".

Last night a monkey was still on the loose, hunted by officers with assault rifles and night-vision goggles.

Officials believe the primate is carrying Herpes B — a disease that can kill or result in "severe neurologic impairment".

The animals shot dead by officers include two wolves, six black bears, two grizzly bears, 18 Bengal tigers, mountain lions and nine male lions, eight female lions and one baboon.

The corpses have been "buried on the property", cops said.

Three leopards, a grizzly bear and two monkeys were taken to a zoo.

Killed ... escaped animals lie dead

The drama unfolded in Zanesville, Ohio, three weeks after Muskingum County Animal Farm boss Terry Thompson completed a jail term for gun offences.

Police investigating reports of escaped animals such as giraffes and camels found the body of Thompson, 62, who kept apes inside his homestead. Outside, all cages and fences had been opened.

TV wildlife host Jack Hanna said: "It's like Noah's Ark — Noah's Ark with tigers, lions, leopards and a few monkeys. All of a sudden they're out there."

Sheriff Matt Lutz said officers had to act fast to tackle "mature, very big, aggressive" animals.

Zoo staff with tranquilliser guns arrived from nearby Columbus, but when an animal shot with one "went crazy", it was killed.

Defending his shoot-to-kill orders, Sheriff Lutz added: "We are not talking about your normal, everyday house cat or dog.

"These are 300lb Bengal tigers we've had to put down."

An animal welfare expert who knew Thompson said the animals were kept in poor conditions.

In 2005 he was convicted of cruelty to animals and put under house arrest for six months.

Animal shelter boss Larry Hostetler said: "There were complaints he wasn't feeding his horses enough, and then when they would die he would feed them to the lions.

"We have been trying to get him shut down since 2003."

Barn ... animal dragged off for burial at Muskingum County Animal Farm