On October 18th, 2011, people around the world were shocked and saddened by the slaughter of 56 exotic animals in Zanesville, Ohio, after they were deliberately released by their suicidal "animal loving" captor. Wolves, monkeys, and 18 exceptionally rare Bengal tigers were some of the creatures forced to live in the homemade zoo, which was completely legal under the relaxed Ohio exotic animal laws.

While this was a sensational worst-case-scenario-type event, there are thousands of exotic pets purchased every year which could have far-reaching, long term ecological impacts if mishandled or released.

Science in Seconds takes a look.

_{Host: Rheanna Sand}

Photo Credits:

<sub>Jennifer Foster
Marcella Jackson

Wikimedia Commons: Alessandro Di Grazia, SuperJew, Marie-Lan Nguyen, Carol M. Highsmith, And0283

Flickr: Shadowgate, Larazoni, annrkiszt, Elyssa Albert, Orin Zebest, _Wichid_, Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue, USFWS/Southeast, Dario Sanches, shortfatkid, goingslo

YouTube: shellswong</sub>

_{www.nps.gov/ever}

References:

http://www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/nonnativespecies.htm
http://www.sugarglider.com/archives/ruth/health.html