Search Exotic Incidents Database

Five meerkats died at the Philadelphia Zoo recently after they were exposed to an unknown toxin from a dye routinely used to identify them. The zoo has used the topical agricultural dye called Nyanzol-D for over 30 years, said Rachel Metz, the zoo’s vice president of animal well-being.

The dye is used on other animals at the zoo. The zoo has been conducting an investigation in hopes of finding out what caused the animals’ deaths. The zoo has suspended use of the dye until officials find out what happened to the meerkats. Necropsy results are pending.

A 2-year-old critically endangered female addax named Terri has died at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Terri was found near a fence that separates the addax and ostrich habitats. Necropsy reports showed evidence of a cervical fracture, which the zoo said indicates something may have spooked Terri and caused her to run and collide with the fence. Terri leaves behind two herd companions, Jack and Janet.

Federal regulators have cited Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, for contributing to the death of a snow monkey last year.

Last August, an 8-year-old snow monkey went under anesthesia for a lengthy dental procedure at the zoo. The monkey was laid on an electric heating pad for the three-hour long procedure (a routine practice in veterinary hospitals to help animals maintain their core body temperature while under the effects of anesthesia).

According to USDA inspectors, the vet staff failed to monitor the temperature of the heating pad, causing the monkey to suffer a severe burn.

Thirteen days later, the monkey was euthanized after staff said he would not recover. The USDA issued a violation, and all veterinary staff were required to be retrained on the use of the heating pad.

A twelve-year-old female giraffe named Emara has died at the Calgary Zoo in Canada after a tragic accident.

Staff found Emara unresponsive in the early morning of May 19, leaning against the fence in the African Savannah Yard enclosure. One of Emara’s ossicones (or horns) had gotten caught on the cable around the enclosure, which likely led to her falling and breaking her neck.

A 5-year-old zebra named Stuart has just tragically died at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Witnesses at the scene stated that Stuart was running very quickly when he made a turn, lost his footing, and collided with a fence post in his enclosure. According to the zoo, Stuart was running and chasing the impalas in the habitat. Zoo officials stated that Stuart’s injuries were too severe, and he could not be saved. The zoo is still awaiting results to determine his cause of death.

According to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, a woman is now facing charges after a marmoset bit a child in her home. Officials with the agency stated that they received a tip and, after obtaining a warrant to search a home in Pendleton County, found and seized the marmoset that had bitten the girl.

The marmoset was euthanized “in accordance with state wildlife and public health laws so it could be tested for rabies to determine if the bite victim needed treatment for rabies.” The woman has been charged with one count of propagation and holding wildlife without a permit. According to court documents, this is the second time Wilson has been found in possession of a primate.

At the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a pygmy hippo named Jahari attacked and fatally wounded a sitatunga (a type of antelope) named Chopper when zoo staff attempted to put them in the same enclosure.

The Lost Creek Safari petting zoo in Stillwater, Oklahoma, has temporarily closed following an incident with a baby lemur and a park guest. The zoo said the guest “acted inappropriately” during the incident at the petting zoo when a child on a field trip grabbed the back of the lemur, named Sunday, causing the animal to scratch the boy. The child’s mother claimed the lemur then bit the boy’s hand.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), along with the Wild Animal Sanctuary, have just announced that all animals have been removed from the Waccatee Zoo; an infamous roadside zoo in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area.

The last of the animals, including one llama, two North American black bears, and six emus, are now on their way to a sanctuary in Colorado.

PETA filed a lawsuit in April 2021 claiming that the Waccatee Zoo violated the federal Endangered Species Act and South Carolina’s public nuisance law, by confining and exhibiting over 460 animals in poor conditions.

The lawsuit also alleges that it has received over 150 complaints from the public about the roadside zoo. While the zoo was in the process of closing, many of the animals were sent to other roadside zoos or sold at shady exotic-animal auctions.