Lions, Tigers And Cats Escape From Private Zoo In Idaho Town

LAVA HOT SPRINGS, Idaho - The elementary school was closed and dozens of law-enforcement officers scrambled to stop lions, tigers and crossbred cats today after they escaped from a wild-animal compound.

"There's been 11 and possibly 12 killed and we know that three are still loose," said a Bannock County sheriff's dispatcher.

She said the owners of the privately owned compound, called Ligertown, were attacked by at least one of the cats after they escaped about 9:30 p.m. yesterday. "Liger" is a term for a cross between a lion and a tiger.

The owners, Robert Fieber and Dotti Martin, were treated for minor injuries.

The compound is located just outside the town, 28 miles southeast of Pocatello.

About 50 sheriff's deputies, SWAT teams, fish and game officers and state troopers were on the scene.