Search Exotic Incidents Database

A Barbary ape was shot at Cash Wiley’s Exotic Animal Ranch by an unknown shooter. The incident was being investigated by Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department. The monkey, named Rascal, was found floating in a pond the day after Halloween. Rascal was the dominant male in a group of seven primates.

Five wildebeests escaped from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Rather than moving into the barn where they usually spent the winter, five of the zoo’s seven wildebeests ran toward the opposite end of the exhibit and broke through a gate in a 10-foot-high fence. Two wildebeests suffered severe breaks to their front legs and were euthanized. The remaining three leaped a 4-foot-wall and eluded zoo and city staff for 2-1/2 hours while they ran through nearby neighborhoods. The animals were finally tranquilized and returned to the zoo.

A 2-ft-long alligator was found in the surf near the shore of Lake Michigan. The alligator was recaptured.

Tatima, a 35-year-old African elephant at the Lincoln Park Zoo, was found dead in her enclosure. Zoo officials believed she died of tuberculosis, which came as a surprise to zookeepers who were unaware that tuberculosis could be a problem. Handlers were keeping a close eye over the two remaining elephants and other animals that resided in close proximity to the elephant habitat. Tatima arrived in 2003 from the wild animal park in San Diego.

A serval escaped from her residence and was loose for three weeks. The cat escaped through a storm door. She was subsequently recaptured on 11/10/04.

Zeke, a 4-year-old Grant’s zebra, chased a 32-year-old white rhino into a moat, where she died. An examination found that the rhino had drowned.

A 5-year-old boy was bitten by his family’s “pet” wolf. The boy survived attack but wolf was killed.

Passengers waiting for the subway saw a 10-ft-long snake curled up on the tracks. The snake was later run-over by the train.

A serval escaped from home and was subsequently recaptured by Animal Control.

An albino wallaby who had eluded searchers for three days was found dead, apparently killed by a car. The wallaby escaped from a menagerie of exotic animals kept on an estate.