Search Exotic Incidents Database

A Bengal tiger pulled the flesh off the right middle finger of a woman visiting the Wild Wilderness Drive Thru Safari after she reportedly placed her hand in the tiger’s cage. See 01/24/02 entry for another incident involving Wild Wilderness Drive Thru Safari.

An African serval escaped from its cage at Wilderness Safari and was shot and killed by a hunter. The hunter notified the operator of wild animal park of the killing and said he skinned the cat and put the hide in his freezer.

Vanilla Ice’s “pet” wallaroo escaped from his backyard and was on the loose. The animal was later found and returned.

A pregnant baboon being loaded onto aircraft at Bush Intercontinental Airport escaped after the door to her cage opened. She was eventually caught after clambering up into the rafters below the elevated terminal concourse. The baboon is part of a troupe of primates heading to a San Francisco area zoo.

A chimpanzee ran through a residential neighborhood after escaping from the Casa de Cheeta sanctuary for rehabilitation of show business primates. The 16-year-old chimpanzee knocked on residence doors and windows after the owner of the sanctuary forgot to latch the chimpanzee’s security door. A second security door was subsequently installed to prevent any further incidents.

An 18-year-old circus worker was bitten by a bear while trying to break up aggressive behavior among several bears at the Big Cat Habitat. The man was flown to Bayfront Medical Center where he is listed in fair condition.

A man pleaded guilty to several charges of unlawful possession of a Canadian timber wolf. The wolf was confiscated and transferred to a menagerie in another part of the state.

An otter at the Salisbury Zoo bit a 16-year-old boy after he reportedly put his hand in the otter cage. This incident came just five days after a jaguar tore off part of a man’s finger. See 10/30/04 entry.

An 18-year-old circus worker was bitten by a bear while trying to break up aggressive behavior among several bears at the Big Cat Habitat. He was flown to Bayfront Medical Center where he was listed in fair condition.

A former circus elephant pushed through a fence to escape from a farm and was found following day. The 40-year-old, 5-ton female Asian elephant had several cuts when found, which her caretaker said were likely from her making her way through the fence.