Columbus Zoo Blamed for Leopard’s Death
Columbus Zoo Blamed for Leopard’s Death
POWELL — The federal government says the Columbus Zoo is to blame for the death of a leopard that survived last year’s Zanesville escape.
The cat was killed while being transferred to a new cage at the zoo in January.
A newly released U.S. Department of Agriculture report attributes the leopard’s death to a lack of employees and proper training:
“Closing the shift door at the wrong time, and not having enough people present to shift the cat safely directly resulted in the cat’s death.”
The leopard was one of six exotic animals to survive after Terry Thompson released dozens in October, 2011. Thompson then committed suicide.
