Search Exotic Incidents Database

Man is rushed to a hospital after being bitten by his rhinoceros viper snake, considered one of the most deadly snakes in the world. He received anti venom and survived the attack.

A serval escaped from his home and was spotted roaming a neighborhood.

A capuchin monkey was stolen from her home. The animal was later found. The couple who stole the animal were charged with first degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, and theft.

An elephant fatally trampled her trainer while being loaded into a truck. The trainer died after being taken to the hospital with critical chest injuries. The elephant, owned by Tarzan Zerbini Circus, was hired to perform in the Fort Wayne Mizpah Shrine Temple’s annual circus at the time of the trampling. In a similar incident, another employee of the same circus was injured in 1995 when the elephant knocked him to the ground and stomped on his abdomen.

A wild feline was spotted on the loose.

An escaped lynx was found 1/8 of a mile from the property of Abby and Emma Hedengrans. He was tranquilized by Fish and Game wardens and taken to a state-run animal holding center. About three days after the lynx was trapped, Abby Hedengran showed up to claim the 90-pound cat, which triggered an inspection of the property he and his wife rented. Authorities found three lions, two tigers, a snow leopard and 16 smaller cats, including bobcats and lynx, in a barn or running free inside the Hedengrans’ mobile home. The animals were not in permanent cages, as required by law. The cats were immediately transferred to various sites in California and Nevada, including a sanctuary in Las Vegas. The Hedengrans were also responsible for the escape and death of a tiger (see 2/23/05 incident).

Zeke, a 4-year-old Grant’s zebra, escaped from his exhibit and entered the lion area. By the time that zoo staff arrived, the animals had retreated to opposite corners of the enclosure. Zeke had several claw marks, and Kalisa, a 6-year-old African lioness, was wet and muddy. Zookeepers believe Zeke either kicked or bit Kalisa. Attempts to coax the lioness indoors were unsuccessful, so the zoo veterinarian used a tranquilizer dart to subdue her. Zeke was then led out of the lion exhibit.

A 15-month partnership of two lions that shared an exhibit at the Sacramento Zoo ended when the male, Aslan, attacked and killed the lioness, Massina. The zoo director said, “This is really a reminder of how unpredictable their behavior can be at times.” She then said Aslan might be paired with another lioness.

A Siberian tiger at the Great Plains Zoo attacked a zoo visitor after he stuck his hand inside the tiger cage. The man was rushed to the hospital where he received stitches for his finger.

A serval cat was found dragging his left leg through the underbrush around a sports complex. The animal had to be euthanized after it was discovered his back was broken.