Search Exotic Incidents Database

Results 61 - 70 of 3177 total
1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 318
Location/Date
Description
Species
July 24, 2025
Natural Bridge, VA

NATURAL BRIDGE, VA – One of the four giraffes seized from the Natural Bridge Zoo died while being transported to Georgia in May, prompting a criminal investigation into the circumstances of their death. Investigators are currently focused on the medication that the Zoo may have administered to the giraffe before the state transported them to a safari park in Georgia.

The attorney general’s office stated that a preliminary report has ruled out stress as a cause of death. Additional information will be provided once a toxicology report is available. Authorities seized Valentine back in May and sent her to the Georgia Safari Conservation Park in Madison, Georgia. The Zoo expressed concerns that the actions of the veterinarians participating in the seizure endangered Valentine’s life, safety and health. Cardinal News also reported that Shaun Kenney, a spokesman for Attorney General Jason Miyares, said, “The team transporting the giraffes would routinely stop as they moved across state lines. Valentine showed no sign of distress or discomfort moving into South Carolina and was discovered to be deceased as they crossed into Georgia.”

  • Other
July 22, 2025
Cape May, NJ

CAPE MAY, NJ – Gretta, a female zebra, died after suffering a fall that left her paralyzed while running with the herd on July 9. Zoo officials say she kicked her hind legs in the air—a typical zebra action—then fell and could not get back up.

Staff and veterinarians rushed to her side and cared for her throughout the afternoon and evening, but she died later that day. A necropsy revealed Gretta broke multiple vertebrae in the fall, leaving her fully paralyzed. Gretta had given birth to a female foal just weeks earlier, on June 12. It was her third birth at the zoo.
  • Other
July 22, 2025
Garden City, KS

GARDEN CITY, KS – A rhino at a Kansas zoo died after it was attacked by another rhino, according to zoo officials. The Lee Richardson Zoo said a necropsy was conducted on Jabari the rhino after he died on July 11 with the preliminary cause of death being ruled as trauma with no contributing health issues.

The zoo said an internal investigation revealed that Jabari and another male rhino gained access to each other overnight in the indoor quarters after one of them pushed a gate open between the two separate areas where they were spending the night due to predicted overnight storms. The encounter between the two rhinos resulted in Jabari’s injuries. Zoo officials said action was taken to make sure that any similar accidents would not happen in the future.

They also said it notified the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) of the incident.

  • Other
July 19, 2025
Asheboro, NC

ASHEBORO, NC – The North Carolina Zoo announced on Thursday that Leia the giraffe died this week. On Tuesday morning, Leia underwent a planned medical procedure for a hoof injury.

She was expected to make a full recovery but experienced a complication known as acute aspiration after the procedure. Aspiration can sometimes happen with the use of anesthesia in both people and animals. It is widely considered the number one complication with giraffe surgical procedures.

An animal autopsy was performed, and results confirmed aspiration as the official cause of Leia’s death. She was 15 years old

  • Other
July 14, 2025
San Antonio, TX

SAN ANTONIO, TX – A mother has stated that a giant Pacific octopus attacked her 6-year-old son on a visit earlier this month to the San Antonio Aquarium. The alleged attack took place on July 14 when mother Britney Taryn visited the Leon Valley aquarium with her son Leo. In a TikTok video, the mother said she and her son are regulars at the aquarium, which features an open-air touch tank, where guests can touch the octopus without supervision.

The pair had been visiting the octopus, named Cthulhu, for three years. On a July 14 visit, her son put his hand in the tank, and Cthulhu’s tentacles wrapped around Leo and he refused to let go. After aquarium employees applied ice to the octopus, stunning the animal, he let go of Leo’s arm. Leo apparently suffered from suction cup bruises on his arm from the encounter.

San Antonio Aquarium officials didn’t respond to the Current’s inquiries about whether the exhibit is still open to the public and whether the behavior is common for the octopus. In a TikTok posted by the San Antonio Aquarium, a handler says giant Pacific variety is the largest species of octopus and has a poisonous beak. The species are also known escape artists, which is why they’re usually not kept in open air tanks.

It’s not the first time the San Antonio Aquarium has come under scrutiny. The attraction, which opened in 2014, is owned and operated by Crystal Covino, whose husband, Ammon Covino, was convicted in 2013 of conspiring to buy illegally harvested marine animals.

  • Marine
July 13, 2025
Kansas City, MO

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City Zoo is mourning the loss of 36-year-old orangutan Rufus.

He had lived at the Zoo for over two decades and passed on Saturday due to a chronic heart condition. Rufus was a father figure and playmate to orangutans Josie and Kalijon.

  • Primates
July 12, 2025
San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Tenzing, a 12-year-old male red panda known for his playful antics, has died at the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens after a rapid decline in health caused by a parasitic infection, zoo officials said.

The Himalayan red panda had recently shown intermittent neurological symptoms, including balance issues. Despite extensive diagnostics and intensive treatment, zoo veterinarians determined sarcocystosis, a rare parasitic disease known to affect red pandas, was the likely cause. Tenzing passed away under veterinary care.

  • Other
July 6, 2025
Memphis, TN

MEMPHIS, TN – A gorilla died at the Memphis Zoo earlier this month, the zoo announced in a social media post on Monday. The post says that 37-year-old Kwizera was found unresponsive during a routine check on July 6. Despite their lifesaving efforts, they could not revive her.

While female gorillas in human care can live into their 50s, the zoo says Kwizera’s passing came unexpectedly after a brief illness. A full necropsy has been performed, and they are awaiting the results.

  • Primates
July 3, 2025
Providence, RI

PROVIDENCE, RI – A zebra died in “a tragic accident” at a Rhode Island zoo after apparently panicking during a storm. The plains zebra, named Samantha, collided “with a fence in her holding area” during the July 3 storm and was killed instantly, Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village said in a July 7 post on Facebook.

The other zebras at the zoo, Tundra and Zipper, “are being closely monitored by our animal care and veterinary teams as they adjust to this sudden loss,” according to zoo officials. Samantha came to the zoo in Providence in 2003 and was 24 years old, the zoo said. After the accident, she underwent a necropsy, which “confirmed that she passed instantaneously.”

  • Other
July 2, 2025
Swansboro, NC

SWANSBORO, NC – An African serval kept as a pet in Swansboro, North Carolina, has escaped. Kenai’s owners are actively searching for him every night. Kenai was last spotted around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, about three miles from his original location.

UPDATE: Kenai was found in the evening hours on Friday and relocated to be with his owners.

  • Small Cats

Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN 94-6187633.