Search Exotic Incidents Database

Results 1 - 10 of 3186 total
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Location/Date
Description
Species
December 17, 2026
Tulsa, OK

TULSA, OK – On X, the Tulsa police department shared a photo of a kangaroo standing in the middle of a local road. Police wrote, “Deputies are currently trying to catch a kangaroo that is loose on the road near 171st Street South and Lewis. If this animal belongs to you, call our dispatch center immediately at 918-596-5600. 🦘Drivers in this area, please use caution. ⚠️.”

Less than one hour later, the kangaroo’s owner arrived on the scene and helped deputies capture her. The kangaroo is named Martha. She escaped from a property not far from where she was captured. She’s now safe and is headed home with her owner.

  • Other
December 15, 2026
Palm Desert, CA

PALM DESERT, CA – The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is sharing good news tonight after one of its most recognizable residents made a brief escape. Pilly, a southern ground hornbill, was safely recovered and returned to the zoo after wandering off the grounds last Thursday.

Zoo officials say Pilly was located this morning at the Vintage Country Club following multiple reported sightings from local residents and animal care staff. Trained staff were able to recapture the bird without incident, and she was found to be unharmed.

  • Other
December 13, 2026
San Fernando, CA

SAN FERNANDO, CA – Two reindeer that were seen running loose on the 5 Freeway in the San Fernando area over the weekend are safe and back with their owner.

The reindeer, named Cookie and Noel, escaped from their transport trailer early Saturday, Dec. 13, and were spotted walking along the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway near the 118 Freeway. CHP said the reindeer had escaped from a transport trailer, prompting the party responsible for transporting them to return to the area to retrieve the animals.

In a Wednesday update, L.A. Animal Services said its officers also responded to the scene and, working alongside Caltrans crews and a good Samaritan, were able to successfully corral the reindeer.

Both animals were then transported to the West Valley Animal Services Center in Chatsworth, where they were examined and cared for before being released and reunited with their owner

  • Other
December 12, 2026
Washington, D.C., DC

WASHINGTON, DC – A binturong bit two National Zoo employees on Dec. 12, sending both to the hospital. The Washington D.C. zoo’s binturong Lola — a dog-sized mammal known as a bearcat that is native to Southeast Asia — was undergoing a routine weight check and training session with a staff member when the incident occurred on Dec. 12. The check took place in an area of the zoo that is closed to the public. Around 10 a.m. local time, the binturong bit the employee and “did not readily let go,” the National Zoo shared in a statement about the “safety incident.”

The staff member sustained “non-life-threatening injuries” during the attack. Another animal care specialist at the zoo stepped in to help. They removed Lola from the area and placed her in a separate enclosure. This second animal care staff member was bitten while moving the bearcat, the zoo stated. Both employees were sent to the hospital to have their injuries treated.

  • Other
December 10, 2026
Jacksonville, FL

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Police were called about 3:43 p.m. on Monday to Pet Supplies Plus, 1930 W. Morton Ave., for a report that one of its birds had been stolen. A Jacksonville woman took to social media a few hours later and displayed a photo of a green-and-yellow bird that appeared outside her house about 6:30 p.m. She noticed a tag on the bird’s leg and thought they might be someone’s pet.

It didn’t take long for the pieces to come together and for the woman to return the parakeet to the store. Apparently, a boy who was with his mom while she was shopping at the store had slipped the bird into his pocket, according to reports. Charges were not pressed against the juvenile offender, although he has been prohibited from returning to the store, according to a police report.

  • Other
December 8, 2026
Wichita, KS

WICHITA, KS – The Sedgwick County Zoo is closing its tropics building due to the threat of avian influenza. ​The zoo said Monday that a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) had been identified in Sedgwick County.

The zoo announced on social media on Monday, Dec. 8, adding that their staff is working tirelessly to provide the birds with the best care, following strict safety protocols. “While this strain doesn’t pose a high risk to human health, it does put many Zoo animals at risk.” The zoo said, “To ensure their safety, we’ve activated our HPAI action plan.”

  • Other
January 5, 2026
San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Two beloved San Francisco Zoo animals were euthanized last week due to declining health, zoo officials said. Eno, a 34-year-old red-bellied lemur, and Freckles, a 19-year-old Magellanic penguin, were “ambassadors for their species.” Eno was being closely monitored after a kidney disease diagnosis, but his health had declined rapidly due to complications.

“In mid-December, staff noticed that Freckles was having trouble breathing and could no longer climb onto Penguin Island,” zoo officials said. He was examined by veterinary staff, given intensive care and round-the-clock monitoring to keep him comfortable and stable. His condition didn’t improve, however, and by Thursday, Freckles appeared confused and didn’t respond when staff approached, touched him, or called his name. “Despite treatment with several medications, his quality of life had declined significantly, and his condition placed him at a high risk of drowning if he were given access to a pool,” zoo officials said.

  • Primates
  • Other
January 4, 2026
Toronto, ID

TORONTO, CA – A giraffe born at a South Carolina zoo has died following a “tragic accident,” according to officials. On Thursday, Kiko, a Masai giraffe, was “given access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat,” officials explained. He then became caught in an opening door.

“Masai giraffes have relatively delicate heads supported by a six-foot neck capable of moving forward, backward, up, down, and side to side, allowing their head position to shift quickly,” the Toronto Zoo explained. “Despite the team’s immediate response, Kiko panicked and sustained injuries that, due to the unique anatomy of his species, proved fatal.”

  • Other
January 1, 2026
Williamstown, NJ

WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ – A 3-foot-tall wallaby named Rex was found safe near a Williamstown Walmart parking lot on Tuesday after he escaped the Lots of Love Farm earlier that day, according to the petting zoo. Rex was spotted by volunteers who went out to search for him and called in his location, the sanctuary noted.

The sanctuary announced the marsupial as missing early Tuesday, with a social media video saying “He is friendly but on the run.” Ron Layden, one of the owners of Lots of Love Farm, told local ABC station WPVI that Rex escaped when he was moved to a different enclosure due to the cold weather and “the cage didn’t get all the way shut.”

  • Other

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