Search Exotic Incidents Database

A 500-lb Bengal tiger escaped from the Panther Ridge Sanctuary after his caretaker neglected to latch his cage. The 4-year-old tiger was loose for two hours before being tranquilized and returned to his cage. His “owner” was cited for escaped captive wildlife, a second-degree misdemeanor.

A 13-ft-long python was found on a busy street in Englewood.

A big cat was spotted on the loose in the Pemberville area.

A tiger cub bit a woman’s hand during an exhibit at the Tampa Bay Auto Mall. Two adult tigers and two cubs were on display so people could have their photographs taken with the tigers. The tigers were supplied by Bottomline Events, in conjunction with Zoo Dynamics, which provided animals to zoos and exhibits. Their caretaker was charged with unsafe handling of captive wildlife, resulting in injury to person.

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).