August 13, 2001 London, KY A “pet” monkey bit a 6-year-old girl on the arm during a county festival. The monkey slept with the possessor’s daughter. Primates
August 10, 2001 Clearwater, FL An 11-ft-long Burmese python, Jake, escaped from his backyard cage and was loose for two days before being recaptured. The snake remained in the custody of a reptile trapper. Authoriities were investigating the circumstances regarding the snake’s escape. Reptiles
August 3, 2001 Hannibal, MO A “pet” iguana, Elvis, escaped from his backyard after he was let out to sunbathe. Elvis was found two weeks later in a tree. Reptiles
August 2, 2001 Pittsburgh, PA An African serva cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, escaped from his home and roamed the neighborhood for a month before he was recaptured. Small Cats
August 1, 2001 Knoxville, TN A “pet” Burmese python escaped from his cage and was found nearly a block away on a bench near a nursery. This was Pete’s second escape in three days. See incident of 7/31/01. Reptiles
July 31, 2001 CA A “pet” serval, Paka, was found walking along the side of a freeway. The cat, who was declawed, was placed with the PAWS Sanctuary in Galt, CA. Small Cats
July 31, 2001 Center Hill, FL A 500-lb male Siberian tiger at Savage Kingdom broke into an adjoining cage and fatally mauled a workman who was there to make repairs. The tiger was shot by the park’s operator. Big Cats
July 27, 2001 Knoxville, TN A “pet” Burmese python, named Pete, escaped through a window and appeared more than a mile away on a house porch. Reptiles
July 25, 2001 Berkeley County, WV A “pet” monkey bit three children and was placed under quarantine to be tested for diseases. The monkey tested negative for hepatitis B and was relocated to a wildlife sanctuary. Primates
July 22, 2001 Oxon Hill, MD A 3-ft-long alligator was found in a creek frightening nearby neighbors. Since alligators are not native to Maryland and it is illegal to own them in the state, it was suspected that the animal was released or escaped from its “owner.” Reptiles