Search Exotic Incidents Database

LITTLE ROCK, AK – According to zoo staff, Catherine the gorilla passed away on Monday, February 2nd, at nearly 43 years old. The week prior to her passing, animal care staff had noticed that Catherine had been having some swelling in her hand and was also experiencing some shortness of breath. She was then given medication, which did help, but she needed further examination to best determine how to treat her.

ONTARIO, CANADA – A female emu named Enzo briefly escaped from an eastern Ontario animal rescue sanctuary earlier this week. Enzo’s exploits unfolded Monday in Almonte, Ont., a town located 50 kilometers southwest of Ottawa. She lives at Gagné Homestead and Rescue, off Highway 29 on the community’s southern outskirts.

Enzo’s emu companion Blue also fled their holding pen, but didn’t make it past the property. The rescue owners remain unsure how the animals got out.

ENTERPRISE, AL – A fire swept through the barn at a south Alabama petting zoo on Jan. 28, 2026, killing all of the animals that were housed inside. Two By Two Petting Zoo is a walk-through indoor exhibit located about three miles outside of downtown Enterprise. The petting zoo, owned by Stephanie and Charles Jones, was a total loss, including its barns and animals such as lambs, bunnies and birds. Approximately 116 animals died.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Fire crews said the investigation continues.

MARSHFIELD, WI – Wildwood Zoo is asking people to stop throwing things into their animal exhibits after staff found a chewed-up dog toy in their wolf exhibit on Thursday. Visitors have been throwing toys and food into the zoo’s exhibits weekly, creating problems for Malachai, a 14-year-old grey wolf. “A lot of people don’t realize a lot of spices can be very harmful to animals,” said Kyle Kirk, Wildwood Zoo manager.

Kirk’s staff have found fast food in Malakai’s exhibit, which should not be part of his diet. The wolf gets 4 pounds of meat daily, ranging from salmon to chicken, plus 7 cups of dog food. These larger portions are because of how much he paces back and forth. Staff are worried Malakai has a blockage in his intestines from a dog toy someone gave him. Staff are hoping to add cameras to the wolf exhibit. For now, they ask people to treat their animals with respect and view the zoo as a place to learn.

KNOX, IN – One pet has died, and another is missing following an hour-long battle against a house fire in Knox. Several fire departments responded to a house fire with possible entrapment Saturday afternoon. Just before 1 p.m., firefighters arrived to find a two-story barn-style home with heavy fire showing on all sides. Crews got to work to put out the flames, but due to water supply complications and deteriorating building conditions, members were pulled from the building.

Firefighters then had to work to control the blaze from the outside of the house. They remained on scene for nearly 3 and a half hours. While no people were injured, two dogs ran away from the scene yesterday. One was returned to the family today, but another remains missing. A pet monkey died in the fire.