Ohio owner relocates 8 exotic animals to sanctuary

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio officials say eight exotic animals are headed to an out-of-state home after their owner said she couldn't meet the requirements of a new state law setting stricter guidelines for keeping them.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that four lions and four bears were on their way to a sanctuary outside of Denver.

State officials had assisted the Perry County woman with relocating the animals. Under the new law, the state agriculture director must authorize any animal transfer.

The owner had told the state that some of the animals previously belonged to a suicidal Zanesville man who released dozens of exotic animals from his property last fall. That high-profile incident helped speed up Ohio's crack down on ownership of exotic animals.

The law took effect Sept. 5.