Search Exotic Incidents Database

The landlord of a local duplex found an American alligator abandoned in a small aquarium. The occupants were recently evicted. Animal Services officials attempted to place the alligator in an animal refuge in Anacortes called Predators of the Heart. The alligator was second such animal taken in by Animal Services.

A Montgomery County judge overruled a county animal board and ordered that a “pet” monkey named Armani, seized from a Rockville woman in May, be returned to her. The judge also ordered police to reimburse thousands of dollars the woman incurred to have a zoo in Thurmond care for the monkey.

The 40-year-old caretaker at Tippi Hedren’s Shambala Preserve was attacked and mauled by a tiger as he was cleaning the big cat’s enclosure, leaving him in critical condition with multiple bites, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman.

A store clerk tried to pet a monkey belonging to a patron of the Family Food Mart and was attacked and bitten on her right cheek. The monkey’s possessor said that the monkey had all his shots and then quickly left the store. The clerk received treatment at an area hospital and was put on strong antibiotics. The local sheriff’s office was investigating the incident.

An adult wolf who escaped from her pen on 10/29/07 was found injured. Efforts to try to capture the injured wolf were unsuccessful and the only option was to shoot her. Authorities were investigating whether the wolf had a tattoo and if the “owner” violated the requirement to promptly report her escape.

A 16-month old elephant, Nisha, died early in the morning at the Dickerson Park Zoo, from the herpes virus — elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV). She first showed signs of illness two days prior, and was given anti-viral medication in an attempt to combat the virus.

An 18-month-old kangaroo that escaped his yard was eventually caught (by the tail!) by a police officer. The kangaroo’s possessor was a local veterinarian.

A lion escaped from his possessor’s cage and was spotted along U.S. 23 by motorists on 11/19/07. The possessor was charged with failure to confine the animal. The Pike County Humane Agent who inspected the possessor’s property found a wood and wire cage where two lions were kept in very bad condition with caked manure and rotting animal carcasses. See also entry on 11/19/07.

Zuri, a 1-year-old cheetah, escaped from her exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo. A visitor alerted a zoo worker that the cheetah was loose. The area was evacuated until the cheetah was captured, unharmed, around a half hour later, and returned to the exhibit. This was the third time since 2000 that a cheetah had escaped the zoo enclosure.

Motorists along US 23 were surprised to see a lion chasing cars. Deputies reported that the lion’s possessor was on the scene and successfully recaptured Lambert, the lion, without injury to him or any person. The Sheriff’s office reported the incident to the USDA and was still investigating the lion’s escape. The lions were kept by Terry Brumfield, who kept 2 lions on his property. Pike County Humane Agent John Owens who inspected Brumfield’s property found the cage that the two lions were kept was caked with manure and littered with rotting carcasses.