Search Exotic Incidents Database

A martial arts teacher was knocked to the ground during a photo shoot at the Bowmanville Zoo for Star-owned Desi Life magazine. He suffered four broken ribs and a bloodied lung .

A zookeeper at the National Zoo was taken to the hospital and treated for a laceration on her leg after the zoo’s giant panda cub, Tai Shan, made “physical contact” with her. Zoo managers were investigating the incident, which appeared to have occurred after a keeper brought Tai Shan indoors to place food in the exhibit yard, but Tai Shan re-entered the yard through an unsecured door.

Chico, a wayward Java macaque, was euthanized by the Spokane Regional Health District despite offers by Born Free USA to transfer him to the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary and to pay for the series of shots for the three bite victims. The results of the brain test proved negative for rabies.

A Capuchin monkey bit a small child who was visiting her possessor’s home. The monkey was quarantined at her possessor’s home while the New Albany-Floyd County Health Department investigated.

A chimpanzee was shot and killed after escaping from his enclosure at the University of Texas research center.

A 34-year-old male silverback gorilla called Sunshine died at the Detroit Zoo. Sunshine was being treated for a flu-like illness in the weeks prior to his death, and had been under treatment for heart disease for the past few years. A necropsy was scheduled to determine more about his death.

The Nebraska Humane Society raided the home of a suspected drug trafficker and found more than 200 animals. Charges of animal cruelty and violating local animal ordinances were pending against the suspect.

A 3-year-old boy sustained a severe bite on his wrist by a “pet” lemur. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The boy’s family refused to disclose where they obtained the lemur but admitted they were intending to start a “petting zoo.”

A “pet” spider monkey escaped from his possessor’s new residence and attacked and bit three people. The monkey was placed under a “dangerous animal” quarantine at Spokeanimal while an investigation was completed. See follow-up on 03/13/08.

Dayton Police and U.S. Marshals found two alligators in a Norvell Court house but didn’t find the 20-year-old man who was wanted on a probation violation. The alligators were turned over to an animal rescue operation.