July 12, 2000 Pittsburgh, PA A puffer fish and panther grouper died because of high levels of ozone in their tank. The fish died when the ozone machine, which disinfects and sterilizes tank water, was turned on for the first time. Jim Prappas, curator of aquatic life, claimed the fish were rushed into their habitats prematurely to meet the deadline for the June 10 opening of the zoo’s new aquarium. Marine
July 1, 2000 Anne Arundel County, MD A “pet” monkey was seized by authorities after he bit someone in a bar where his possessor had taken him. Primates
July 1, 2000 Kansas City, MO A “pet” chimpanzee bit a child and then picked up another child and threw her. Jackson County Animal Control took the chimpanzee into their custody and the “owner” was arrested. Primates
June 30, 2000 Louisville, KY A “pet” vervet, Angelica, bit her possessor on the neck and went for the jugular, leaving puncture wounds on the possessor’s neck. Primates
June 21, 2000 Washington, PA A young elephant with Circus Hope, apparently disturbed by several children playing toy horns, walked away from her trainers in the parking lot of a shopping center. Through combined efforts of the trainers, police, and the security patrol, the animal was quieted and led back to her tent. Elephants
June 15, 2000 Loxahatchee, FL A 6 week old lion cub was found partially paralyzed at the Lion Country Safari in Florida. It was speculated that she was attacked by another lion in the same enclosure. Big Cats
June 14, 2000 Houston, TX Neither “owner” wanted custody of their “pet” mountain lion after their divorce so they left the lion chained to a tree behind the house. The animal was taken to the humane society. Big Cats
June 12, 2000 Pittsburgh, PA About 20 marine animals died. 12 stingrays died after a worker slipped and damaged a sprinkler system, which leaked water into the stingrays’ saltwater tank. Five seahorses several jellyfish die died due to a malfunction in their tank. Marine
June 9, 2000 Richmondtown, NY A man found a 4-1/2-ft-long alligator in a Staten Island stream. The alligator was rescued from the stream and sent to an animal keeper in Pennsylvania. Officials believed the alligator was someone’s “pet.” Reptiles
June 8, 2000 Everett, WA Health officials linked six cases of E. coli infection in children to The Farm petting zoo. Three children were hospitalized. The bacterium apparently spread by water in a bucket in which the children washed their hands. Other