tonight on "nightline," cops versus lions. they are deadly predators, living on game preserves right here in america. now, with dozens set loose on an exotic animal farm in the midwest -- >> 911? >> yeah, there's a lion on mt. perry road. >> tonight, the harrowing hunt comes to a close. plus, is marriage for white people? would single black females find husbands more easily if they just dated and married white men? we meet the man behind the controversial new book who says yes. and we go out with one woman, putting it to the test. and heavy metal cuisine. he's a disciple of satan. a strict vegan. and the star of a devilishly

popular cooking show on the internet. tonight, unmasking the vegan black metal chef. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city, this is "nightline," october 19th, 2011. >> good evening, i'm cynthia mcfadden. we begin with big cats on the loose in small town america. late tonight, ohio authorities called off a hunt for the last of dozens of potentially deadly animals, apparently set free yesterday by a preserve owner in a final desperate act before he took his own life. what followed was a tense, bloody and highly surreal suburban safari, with police officers using 911 reports as a modern way of tracking their disoriented quarry all over the county. now they believe the last animal

unaccounted for, a monkey, was only missing because he had fallen prey to a now dead tiger. here's abc's david kerley. >> reporter: who would have thought in zanesville, ohio, residents would see lions, tigers, and this bear, caught in a cell phone, wandering in the woods after escaping from a nearby property, along with dozens of others. >> 911. >> yeah, there's a lion on mt. perry road. >> i just saw a wolf. >> i think i just seen one. looked like a jaguar or a wolf or something. >> reporter: it was around 5:00 last night and the sheriff's department was launched on what became an unlikely big game hunt. >> i had to run through a field, it was in a hay field. >> reporter: deputy sheriff jonathan merry was one of the first to respond. >> unfortunately had to fire on the wolf. >> reporter: who, after killing a wolf, stared down a black bear. >> the bear then did turn in my direction and ran directly towards me. i fortunately was able to draw

my duty pistol, fired one shot, kill is the animal instantly. >> reporter: then a lion crawled under a fence and started heading for a neighbor. the deputy put it down, too. it was just the beginning. the images are painful, disturbing. some of the most powerful, majestic creatures on the planet, gunned down, lying dead. >> the events that happened last night were extremely unfortunate. and i feel like me and the other deputies were forced into this situation, due to ohio's lax laws in reference to exotic animals. >> reporter: ohio does have some of the most lenient laws on exotic animals. but when day broke this morning, the concern was not the law, but the fact that some of those animals were roaming in neighborhoods. >> i haven't been to zoo in days. >> reporter: columbus zoo director jack hanna drove all night to the scene to try to help police. >> i just hope there aren't any lions and tigers and leopards out there, and a cougar. that might not be a good situation. if they fed them, we're okay.

if it goes a couple of days and there are tigers and cougars out there running around, that might not be the best situation. >> reporter: there was no good count on how many lions, tigers and bears had been killed and how many might be roaming in the hills and woods. so, schools were ordered closed. children told to stay inside. those animals were released on purpose, by this man, terry thompson. he was just released from prison. for a gun felony. his wife, seen here, left him a few months ago. is that why he cut fences, gates and released his 56 animals and then killed himself? authorities were well aware of thompson. >> we've had 35 incidents where we've been there. various types of incidents involving animal cruelty, animals running at large. inhumane treatment. different things like that. >> reporter: thompson had 76 acres here in ohio, horses, up on top of the hill, the buildings where he kept the wild animals. he was no stranger to people in this area. a lot of them had come to this farm to see the wild animals. >> in ohio, under current law,

it's perfectly legal for someone to have a tiger, a lion, a green anaconda, an alligator, a crocodile. it's because ohio is the wild west when it comes to private ownership of exotics. >> reporter: the animals are being buried. but does that bury what's happened here? >> i don't think it will ever bury what's happened here. i think this is one of the largest animal escapes in the history of our country. i know people can't understand why they were put down. i realize that. my heart aches with them. we have 18 bengal tigers gone, there's on 1400 left in the world in the wild. this is beyond a tragedy for the animal world. >> reporter: jack hanna says it's time that his home state, the united states, do something about these magnificent creatures in private hands. >> over my dead body i'm going to work as hard as i can so this doesn't happen again in this state. >> reporter: when it was all over, 49 animals had been shot and six animals had been saved, taken by jack hanna to the columbus zoo. even activists say they understand. >> law enforcement agents were put in a horrible position.

the real fault lies with the policy-making failures that this sort of situation was allowed to exist in the first place. no one should have 50 lions and tigers and macaques and leopards at their home in zanesville, ohio. >> reporter: the sheriff says he has no regrets. >> there was not a doubt in my mind that if animals got into our public, we were going to have serious trouble. and to contain 56 animals in a situation the way we did, our guys are to be commended on it. >> i'm an animal lover, grew up on a farm, loved animals my whole life. but you know, being a deputy sheriff, i was sworn in to protect citizens of this county and community and i feel that me and the other deputies did that by doing what we unfortunately had to do last night. >> reporter: in zanesville, ohio, i'm david kerley for "nightline." >> as jack hanna says, let's hope it never happens again.

just ahead, is marriage for white people? that's the title of a new book that's winning some praise and stirring up an awful lot of controversy. mary? what are you doing here? it's megan. i'm getting new insurance. marjorie, you've had a policy with us for three years. it's been five years. five years. well, progressive gives megan discounts that you guys didn't. paperless, safe driver, and i get great service. meredith, what's shakin', bacon? they'll figure it out. getting you the discounts you deserve. now, that's progressive. call or click today. [ male announcer ] a simple gesture can spark romance anytime. and when it does, men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready

with cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day so you can be ready anytime the moment's right, even if it's not every day. [ man ] tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. [ man ] do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if cialis for daily use is right for you. for a 30-tablet free trial offer, go to cialis.com. e for a 30-tablet free trial offer, emotional here? aren't you getting a little industrial? okay, there's enough energy right here in america. yeah, over 100 years worth. okay, so you mean you just ignore the environment. actually, it's cleaner. and, it provides jobs.

and it helps our economy. okay, i'm listening. [announcer] at conoco phillips we're helping power america's economy with cleaner affordable natural gas... more jobs, less emissions, a good answer for everyone. so, by reducing the impact of production... and protecting our land and water... i might get a job once we graduate. the problem? right here. i couldn't breathe... i couldn't sleep and mornings? rough. i tried tissues and neti pot thingy and even more tissues then i said enough! and i found the solution. [ female announcer ] drug-free breathe right nasal strips. i put it on and...wow! instant relief. i breathed better...slept better felt better. [ female announcer ] take the breathe right challenge and breathe better or your money back. [ man ] come on! it's your right to breathe right!

>> announcer: "nightline" continues from new york city with cynthia mcfadden. >> the black girl curse? it's a term we've learned from a group of four friends, single women, in atlanta, two years ago. that term, they used to describe their marriage prospects. the fact is, a staggering 70% of black women in america are unmarried, compared to 45% of white women. the solution, according to the controversial author you're

about to meet? for black women to stop waiting around for black men. abc's linsey davis tackles the issue. >> reporter: tomika anderson is a 35-year-old single black female on the hunt for a husband. >> i love black men. there is absolute loyalty that i feel towards black men. >> reporter: perhaps that's why she's still single. she was convinced mr. right would be black. but she's read a controversial new book by ralph richard banks, called, "is marriage for white people?" its message, black women should look outside their race for a husband. so, on this night, she's doing just that, meeting eight men -- >> where are you from? >> reporter: of different races -- >> and your number is? >> i'm number one. >> i like that attitude. >> reporter: in one night of speed dating. all part of a strategy banks says will help women like tomika

find a husband. you have suggests that black women should give up the good fight. is that to suggest, give up on black men? >> black women have fought the good fight. they have engaged in a noble endeavor of trying to lift black men. that strategy hasn't really worked. >> i really enjoyed it. >> reporter: the idea that black women should give up on black men has made people angry. >> there's no other ethnic group anywhere advocates annihilating their own race. >> reporter: blogs ran wild. >> welcome back. >> reporter: and even gayle king, oprah's best friend, was horrified by the idea. >> by the time i was done with your book, i thought, should i slit my wrist or is there still hope? >> reporter: king, after all, is part of the staggers 70% of black women who are unmarried, compared to only 45% of white women. it's a stat that plays like a broken record of "single ladies." in a high stakes game of musical

chairs, black men are the chairmans and black women are often the last ones standing. >> black women, faced with a shortage of black male peers, would do well to expand their options in the same way that people of other races have, and look beyond black men. >> reporter: he's certainly not the first to point out the problem facing black women. >> we have this thing called the black girl curse. >> reporter: in 2009, "nightline" sintroduced you to these four women in atlanta who said the same thing. >> a lot of our white friends are happily married by 25. and we're like what is the deal with the b.g.s? and that's the black girls. >> reporter: now, almost two years later, there's still no ring on their fingers. when "nightline" opened up the discussion in a town hall event, the consensus among the black men? >> women are looking for men that don't exist. they're looking for this picture

perfect, denzel washington to come pulling up to the house in a new may back benz with a trunk full of chocolate and a suitcase full of $100,000 bills and it's not going to happen. >> reporter: sherri, is that what you're looking for? >> no, and none of my friends are. i didn't know denzel had a maybach. >> i didn't, either. >> reporter: expectation s asid, banks says there's a shortage of black men ready for marriage. >> theimprisonment numbers, unemployment numbers, under performance academically. these are crisis not only for african-american, but for the nation. >> reporter: some critics say banks is just capitalizing on the fears of black women convinced they will never tie the knot. in one review, someone said you denigrate men and disspirit women and call you a racial pimp. >> i think their view is wrong. black men are actually a source of much of the disadvantage that

black women encounter. >> reporter: his collusion hinges on just how realistic it is for black women to marry outside their race. banks points out that only 9% of black women do so, compare that to asian and hispanic women. >> i just moved here six months ago. >> very good. from where? >> from frankfurt. >> so, you are -- >> not at all, actually. >> reporter: but tomika just might have some luck. >> kindness and warmth is some of her kwqualities that i felt very strong. >> she's really nice. wonderful smile. >> i love new york. >> reporter: of the eight dates, five of them said they wanted to see her again. >> they were definitely the possibilities, so -- that i was pleased about. giving myself the opportunity to be broad. >> reporter: for "nightline,"

i'm linsey davis in new york. >> our thanks to linsey davis for exploring that perplexing problem. next up, the wildest cooking show you're ever like limb to see. and not only because of the altar to satan. i'd race down that hill without a helmet. i took some steep risks in my teens. i'd never ride without one now. and since my doctor prescribed lipitor, i won't go without it for my high cholesterol and my risk of heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. it's backed by over 19 years of research. [ female announcer ] lipitor is not for everyone, including people with liver problems and women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant. you need simple blood tests to check for liver problems. tell your doctor if you are taking other medications, or if you have any muscle pain or weakness. this may be a sign of a rare but serious side effect. [ man ] still love that wind in my face!

talk to your doctor. don't kid yourself about the risk of heart attack and stroke. if lipitor's been working for you, stay with it. lipitor may be available for as little as $4 a month with the lipitor co-pay card. terms and conditions apply. learn more at lipitorforyou.com. terms and conditions apply. and even though you do what you can to take care of it, sometimes you want to give your immune system some support.

try new airborne chewable tablets. each serving contains 14 vitamins, minerals and herbs... including zinc, echinacea, ginger, and a blast of vitamin c. it's the easy, great-tasting way to help support your immune system. airborne. in fast-acting effervescent formula, and new super-convenient chewable tablets!

okay, now, what would you get if you crossed julia child with the rock band kiss? to be honest, the question never even occurred to us until we

encountered one of the most unusual video series on the internet. it's a cooking show that adheres to strictly vegan fare. so far, so good. but then there's the black metal soundtrack. perplexed? well, abc's john berman says, you've just got to see it. ♪ >> reporter: it's time for the mask of demons. time for the armor of hell. yes, it's time -- time to make some food. >> so, here's the main altar where we sacrifice all the various individual tabvegetable. >> reporter: this makeup wearing, armor-clad food lover is brian manowitz. though, on the internet, where he's earned well over a million hits, he goes by another name. he is the vegan black metal chef, which begs the question, out of makeup -- so, what is the

vegan black metal chef? >> well, it's my attempt to answer the question what do vegans eat and in as fun a way as i could find possible. >> reporter: vegans don't eat meat or anything that comes from animals. or in his case, even wear anything. all his armor is vinyl instead of leather. what's being a vegan about for you? >> the quick answer that i tell people is, i don't believe in the exploitation of animals. >> reporter: that's the vegan part. the black metal? >> you can't summon the essence of satan into your food without the pentagram. >> reporter: that's just what he does. brian, a freelance sound engineer, is in two bands and has been listening to black metal for years. and in case you're wondering where black metal fits in the overall metal family -- >> one analogy that i use is death metal kind of sounds like cookie monster and black metal sounds like donald duck. >> reporter: on youtube, he

hosts a cooking show. >> your knife doesn't even have to -- >> reporter: complete with recipes for noodle stir fry and pad thai. ever feel silly? >> never. >> reporter: never once? wearing this? >> never. >> reporter: so he clearly has and forgive us, a devilish sense of humor. >> crush the poe day taupes with a blade and though she no mercy. >> reporter: he takes his vegan commitment and cooking very seriously. >> just bringing conscious tons your actions. and if everyone did that, the world, and myself included, of course, is always kind of bring consciousness to your actions and the world would be a much better place. >> reporter: um -- along with satan's fire. >> absolutely. >> reporter: raised as a jewish kid in florida, he doesn't

really worship satan or anything. unless you're talking about wheat gleeten spelled s-e-i-t-a-n. your refrigerator looks so fresh and bountiful. >> that's why the food is so damn good. >> reporter: and you look so dangerous. >> maybe the real danger is in what other people are eating. >> reporter: indeed. food for thought. it's loud, it's unusual. but you know what? it's really good. delicious. good enough that there's only one way to celebrate. i'm john berman for "nightline" in orlando. >> okay. keep the wig out of the food. thanks for watching abc news. remember, "good morning america" tomorrow morning. weal