Search Exotic Incidents Database

KNOXVILLE, TN – A pet porcupine made a daring escape and was picked up in Knoxville by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The animal was taken to the Young Williams Animal Center, with TWRA advising people with exotic pets to ensure they are properly contained. The agency also said porcupines are a Class 3 animal, which means no permit is required to own them in Tennessee.

JACKSON, MS – Four Amazon parrots at the Jackson Zoological Park were found dead recently, believed to be the victims of a mink attack. On Monday, Jackson Parks and Recreation Director Abram Muhammad said that the animals were found dead after a search. Muhammad said the birds were moved into a barn due to the cold weather. A mink had apparently got into the enclosure and killed them.

“Their bodies were still intact, and based upon what I was taught, and what the vet told us, that is the nature of how minks usually [kill their victims],” he said. Muhammad said the matter was self-reported to the USDA.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Officials with the Oklahoma City Zoo have just announced the unexpected death Mwami, a 36-year-old chimpanzee. Officials said that on Feb. 7, Mwami underwent a routine health screening and dental surgery and appeared to be in good health. After the examination and procedure, Mwami was taken from an animal hospital to the zoo’s Great EscApe habitat to be monitored while he recovered from anesthesia. While he was recovering, zoo officials said Mwami went into cardia arrest and caretakers and the veterinarian team were unable to resuscitate him.

PALM DESERT, CA – Keepers at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert believe the fox is “on grounds, likely in one of the gardens, munching on small insects,” the zoo said in a news release.

The bat-eared fox, who weighs about 10 pounds, escaped from a behind-the-scenes holding facility at the zoo on the evening of Monday, Feb. 10, the zoo said. The fox was spotted several times overnight by searchers but remains on the loose, the zoo said. The zoo asks visitors to be on the lookout for the fox and to call 760-346-5694 if they spot it. They ask visitors not to approach the fox.

MIAMI, FL – A Miami resident sprang into action upon witnessing a giant tortoise making an escape from the owner’s home.

The man managed to capture the tortoise between his legs to prevent the animal from wandering further into the street. As he wrestled with the animal to keep them from crossing the road, he called upon another neighbor to knock on the owner’s door and inform them of the situation. The tortoise was recaptured and returned to the owner.

Mobile, AL – A Starbucks employee was attacked by a customer’s pet monkey, Alabama police say. According to the police, the employee was working the drive-thru when a monkey inside a customer’s vehicle got free. A co-worker rushed to help and pulled the monkey off of the employee. “The monkey then re-entered the customer’s vehicle before the customer drove away,” police said.

The owner of the animal could face charges. This remains an active Animal Services investigation,” police said. Mobile County health officials told Lagniappe Daily that the animal has been identified as an owl monkey, a nocturnal primate.

Frankfort, IN – The City of Frankfort has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after 78 birds died at its petting zoo. According to a USDA inspection report, a veterinary medical officer visited the facility to conduct a routine inspection on Dec. 11 and recorded several violations, including the deaths of 78 birds in a five-month period. This change included a reduction of 32 zebra finches to 19, 27 lovebirds to 17 and 77 parakeets to 22. In total, the report alleged the small avian species population declined from 136 to 58, resulting in a 57% overall reduction.

When employees were questioned about this, the report outlined how they told the veterinary medical officer that they would sometimes find dead birds but were unsure what the cause was. No veterinary exams or necropsies were conducted to learn more about what may have caused the deaths, according to the report. The report also highlighted additional violations, including personnel not being able to provide proof that the facility had an active contingency plan, noted that employees could not offer a written program of veterinary care, and pointed out that the animal food storage conditions were unsanitary. There was an additional issue with the facility’s twilight exhibit that was responsible for providing housing to three foxes. The report said the interior and the north end of the enclosure had an area that did not feature a dig barrier alongside two tunnels that measured around 8 inches in diameter, and that animals would escape regularly.