Search Exotic Incidents Database

A dozen people were charged with violating wildlife laws by allegedly tring to sell a live piranha, other endangered or protected fish, birds, and items such as a polar bear pelt and sea turtle boots.

A 6-ft emu was spotted wandering the hills between Bunn Level and Flat Branch. No on has reported the bird missing.

Jeremy Loveland pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, domestic abuse and use of dangerous weapon, and police recovered 30 snakes and spiders (many of them venomous) from his home. The animals were taken to Milwaukee Animal Control.

Police previously removed exotic pets from Loveland’s home in 2011 (see https://www.bornfreeusa.org/database/exo_incident.php?id=1651).

A pet rhesus monkey name Toby went missing after being scared off by EMS sirens nearby. The family had only had the monkey for about 2 weeks.

A minitiar Reeves Muntjac deer has been spotted in Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park. Animal experts are concerned because the tiny animal could be prey for larger animals. It was unknown where the animal came from.

A 12-foot snake was found in Elkhart County. A group of teenagers were spotted playing outside with the 60 pound, African Rock Python. The snake’s original owner died and his wife decided to give the snake away to the neighbor kids. The snake has been adopted by the /Chicago Herpetology Society and will eventually be taken to a zoo.

Animal control personnel captured a 12-foot reticulated python in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant. They released the snake into the hands of staff at the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter. Owners were later contacted and the snake sent home.

A photographer visiting New York’s Bronx Zoo said he found an escaped kudu in a pedestrian area. Officials arrived led the kudu back to its enclosure. It is unknown how the kudu escaped.

A 54-year old elephant named Sarah collapsed shortly after performing at the Ringling Bros Circus. The elephant was boarding a rail car when she collapsed. Earlier in the year, USDA had cited Ringling Bros for failing to adequately treat her with medical needs.

University of Louisianna Lafayette’s New Iberia Research Center violated a Federal regulation in connection with the deaths of three Rhesus monkeys, a May 31 report by the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service alleges.

The Rhesus monkeys, all one to two year old yearlings, died after they were “accidentally blocked” in a chute connecting two outdoor cages. The USDA report states that the 3 monkeys’ bodies had begun to decompose inside the enclosed metal chute, “…therefore they had been trapped for some time and not properly monitored…” indicating that the NIRC did not follow Animal Welfare Act regulations.