Search Exotic Incidents Database

A Ringling Brothers elephant, Carol, was shot in the shoulder in a drive-by. The shooting is deemed a federal offense because Asian elephants are an endangered species. There is a reward for $33,000 for information leading to an arrest.

A monkey described as a capuchin by authorities, but more closely resembling a vervet, escaped from its enclosure and was spotted on a residential road. Although authorities were told by the guardian to shoot the monkey when found, a nearby business owner was able to safely capture the primate with fruits. The monkey sustained injuries to his tail while on the run.

A ball python and a chihuahua were taken from a home in retaliation by a former acquaintance. The dog was later found unhurt, but the python was discovered dead in a plastic bag.

A corn snake kept at a local library was intentionally harmed and killed when someone poured a heavy-duty cleaning solvent on it. The suspect has not been caught.

A Wyoming County man was charged with illegally possessing a Burmese python. The snake was removed from the residence and the man was issued an appearance ticket for court.

Two ball pythons, a red-tailed boa and a savannah monitor lizard were stolen fom the The Discovery Center in Fresno. An arrest was made in the case and the red-tailed boa and monitor lizard were found, but the remaining two reptiles have not yet been located.

A father shot and killed the family’s pet wolf-hybrid dog after the animal bit off his 11-year old son’s finger when the boy stuck his hand into the animal’s cage. After killing the animal, the father cut open the stomach to retrieve his son’s finger, but it could not be reattached due to extensive nerve damage.

A 46-year-old Asian elephant named Judy was found dead in her enclosure by zookeepers. Officials released the cause of death as chronic gastrointestinal irritation, a side effect from arthritis treatment.

A seven-foot long Burmese python was removed from a man’s home who claims to have rescued the snake. The man was ticketed for possession of the snake under the Wild Animals Pet law. It is illegal to own a python in New York.

An Eastern black and white Colobus monkey escaped from its exhibit at the Audubon Zoo. The zoo was briefly closed, but the 30-pound primate named Kivuli was safely returned to its exhibit. A review is being conducted to determine how the primate was able to escape.