Search Exotic Incidents Database

Emmitt, a female 9-year-old African spurred tortoise, walked out Robert and Valerie Kelly’s house when someone accidentally left a door ajar. She has not been found, although the Kellys accuse the city’s assistant animal control officer of collecting Emmitt and turning her over to a professional reptile handler.

The Phoenix Herpetological Society rescued a 6-foot-long red tail boa constrictor from a golf course. The snake had multiple injuries across his back, and was covered in gas station napkins which were secured by tape that was wrapped way too tightly. Vets said the injuries apparently resulted from the previous owner feeding a live rat, but not removing the rat after the snake refused it. The rat apparently attacked the snake multiple times.

Nadya, a 3-year-old Amur tiger at the Minnesota Zoo, died. The tiger had been ailing the week before her death, but veterinarians and zookeepers could not determine what caused her illness, even after emergency exploratory surgery.

Eric Lane Coatney was cited after fish and wildlife officers arrived at his home to find him walking a 3-foot alligator around his yard on a leash. He was allowing several children to pet the gator. He was charged with a misdemeanor offense of taking possession of an alligator without a license.

A serval owned by a woman named Beth Rhines was seized by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It’s illegal to own a serval in Connecticut. The cat, named Noah, is in state custody at the Beardsley Zoo and Rhines was charged with illegal possession of a dangerous animal.

After being clocked speeding and crashing his car, a man fled on foot with a marmoset on his back. The man was arrested, and the monkey was released to a family member.

Ten animals were removed from Stump Hill Farm, a roadside zoo, after owners failed to comply with permitting requirements under Ohio’s Dangerous Wild Animal Act. The animals including a former Obie — the live tiger mascot for Massillon City Schools — as well as two pumas, two baboons and a chimpanzee.

The animals were transported to the state’s holding facility in Reynoldsburg.

Ali Iyoob was bitten by his pet king cobra and was in critical condition at a hospital, but survived.

Iyoob owned 18 venomous snakes, 16 nonvenomous snakes, one caiman, two turtles, four quail, and four fish, all of which were removed from his home. Possession of dangerous snakes is prohibited in Orange County, and Iyoob pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. He was sentenced to two years of supervised probation and must also pay $4,000 to the state for costs related to snake removal.

Deputies arrested Steven Vanbuskirk after finding methamphetamine and a 24-inch ball python in his backpack.

Travis Treder tried to steal a baby python out of the Animal House Pet Center store by stuffing it down his pants. The owner intervened to recover the snake, and Treder was arrested.