Search Exotic Incidents Database

A Warminister Animal Control officer netted a 5-ft-long alligator on a path next to Pennypack Creek. Officials planned to take the alligator to a zoo or animal rescue center.

The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park euthanized Carol, a 40-year-old Asian elephant who had been suffering from degenerative joint disease in her legs and inflammation in her feet for several years.

Toby, a 38-year-old “pet” primate, escaped from her possessor’s home. County Animal Control officials asked people to be cautious if they spotted her.

Two separate incidents involving large snakes were reported. Officials were trying to trap a 12-ft-long python or boa constrictor they suspect had been dining on kittens. In the other incident, officials recaptured a 9-1/2-ft-long albino python that escaped from her possessor’s car.

State wildlife officials captured a 4-ft-long alligator from an area along the Sacramento River. The alligator was taken to an investigations lab in Rancho Cordova.

Four zebras and three horses from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus escaped from their handlers when they were spooked by Interstate traffic noise. The animals ran onto a road next to the Interstate, eluding 15 animal handlers for about 30 minutes. They were subsequently recaptured unharmed.

A 5-year-old child received a minor injury at the New River Zoo when a coatimundi that had escaped her pen nipped the child on the knee. The animal was euthanized to test for rabies. Tests proved negative.

Norton, a 23-foot juvenile whale shark, was euthanized after he slowly spiraled to the bottom of his tank. His death marked the second time a whale shark died at the Atlanta Aquarium. Ralph died five months earlier.

Vermont game wardens seized two primates from an Eden home and charged a man with illegally importing and possessing the animals. The primates were identified as a Rhesus Macaque and a Debrazza’s monkey. The two primates were to be transferred to a wild animal rescue organization in another state.

Hansa, a 6-year-old baby elephant at the Woodland Park Zoo, died in her sleep. Initial post-mortem testing was inconclusive. She had been experiencing colic-like symptoms during the week prior to her death, but a definitive cause of her symptoms had yet to be determined. Update 07/02/07: After a necropsy was performed, it was subsequently determined that Hansa died from a newly discovered herpes virus.