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A handler at the Shell Factory and Nature Park filed suit against the park in connection with serious injuries he suffered after being kicked by the park’s zebra, Ann Curry. Park owners expected the handler to harness and teach the zebra to walk on a lead. See also entry on 12/31/07.

Babe, a 40-year-old Asian elephant, died while giving birth at the Fort Worth Zoo. Her calf also died during the birth process. It was believed that a torn uterus caused Babe’s death.

A poisonous snake enthusiast who already spent 29 days in jail for violating state laws regarding endangered species faced new charges.

Benny, a spider monkey seized in an Erie drug raid, died before he could be examined by a veterinarian. The monkey was being cared for by the local animal shelter. The State Attorney General’s office continued to investigate.

A Capital of Texas Zoo volunteer was injured by a mountain lion that she tried to pet after feeding him, according to a Bastrop County Animal Control investigator. The volunteer suffered a broken thumb and had stitches. The mountain lion was quarantined for 30 days.

As many as 100 exotic animals died in a fire at Safari Joe’s Exotic Wildlife Refuge. The barn that burned housed monkeys, reptiles, and birds. Two tigers were also injured and later died.

Sheriff officials were investigating what could possibly be animal cruelty at a local trailer park where several animals, including two alligatiors, a Burmese python, an iguana, and several species of fish and turtles were discovered. The fish and iguana were found dead. The surviving animals were turned over to a local acquarium business owner who would care for them.

Attempting to evade the zoo workers chasing her, a stray dog jumped into the tiger pit at the Memphis Zoo. The dog was attacked by one of the tigers, sustaining puncture wounds to her neck and shoulders. She was taken to a local Veterinary hospital for treatment.

Masai, a 17-year-old African lioness at Zoo Atlanta, was reported as being in guarded condition after being diagnosed with severe anemia, which was discovered following treatment for an upper respiratory infection in December. A 14-year-old male Sumatran tiger, Jalal, was also reported as recovering from an illness that had induced spasms of vomiting that began two days prior.

According to a citation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, two leopards named Thunder and Rosebud had visible injuries. Thunder had open wounds on his tail, while Rosebud was hunched over in an abnormal posture and had an open wound on her tail. Nick Sculac, owner of the zoo, failed to report the injuries or seek veterinary treatment.