October 30, 1996 Penacook State, NH A “pet” monkey, Angel, bit at least 5 people on separate occasions, including a boy who lived in the neighborhood. Angel’s teeth were removed to prevent further bites. Primates
October 20, 1996 Los Angeles, CA An elephant attacked an assistant trainer during a training exercise at the Los Angeles Zoo, breaking three ribs and a collarbone. Elephants
October 13, 1996 Massapequa, NY A 50-year-old man who secretly kept 12 “pet” snakes at his home was bitten by a 1-ft-long poisonous viper on his left index finger while milking it for venom. The man was rushed to the hospital for antivenin. The police confiscated all 12 snakes (8 rattlesnakes, 2 African puff adders, an African rhinoceros viper, and another snake unidentified) and were attempting to relocate them to the Bronx Zoo. Reptiles
October 9, 1996 Las Vegas, NV Bonnie, an 8-year-old Bengal tiger at Keepers of the Wild, mauled her trainer when he fed her. The trainer underwent surgery on his feet and legs. Big Cats
October 9, 1996 Daytona Beach, FL A child riding an elephant at the Octoberfest festival knocked her head when she slipped in the seat and fell on her side. The girl was taken to the hospital for treatment of a possible concussion. Elephants
October 1, 1996 Queens, NY A 19-year-old man was killed by his “pet” python after the snake wrapped itself around the man’s neck. The snake was kept uncaged in the man’s apartment and was presumed safe since it never attacked the household cat. Reptiles
September 20, 1996 AZ A 3-week-old boy was admitted to the hospital with a fever, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea of 15 days’ duration. The boy was diagnosed with Salmonella, which he received from the family’s “pet” iguana. Reptiles
September 16, 1996 VA A “pet” iguana attacked his possessor by biting her nose. The woman required more than 30 stitches and $14,000 in plastic surgery. Reptiles
August 22, 1996 Crystal Beach, TX A “pet” lion escaped from her enclosure after being released during an apparent burglary. The lion chased a youth into a convenience store and then jumped into a pickup truck bed carrying another youth. In 1987, the lion bit a man repeatedly. Big Cats
August 21, 1996 San Francisco, CA A small alligator was spotted in Mountain Lake in San Francisco. A long search by San Francisco Zoo officials, assisted by a professional alligator hunter from Florida, ended with the animal’s capture. It was placed on exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo before being flown to a Louisiana wildlife sanctuary and released. Reptiles