Search Exotic Incidents Database

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Location/Date
Description
Species
January 8, 2026
Milwaukee, WI

MILWAUKEE, WI – The Herb & Nada Mahler Family Aviary has been closed after a confirmed case of avian influenza. According to Zoo officials, a wild Canadian goose was found deceased in the parking lot. When tested, the bird tested positive for bird flu. The aviary will remain closed for the foreseeable future out of an abundance of caution.

The Zoo says visitors can still see the whooping cranes and the Humboldt penguins, who will not be removed from their habitats as breeding season approaches. The aviary was also closed for about a month over bird flu from February to March 2025.

  • Other
January 7, 2026
Summerville, SC

SUMMERVILLE, SC – An escaped wallaby has been fished out of a family pool. The marsupial was first spotted hopping around the family’s back garden. After a brief pursuit, the wallaby ended up leaping into the swimming pool. Unsure what to do next, the family called the local authorities.

The police arrived at the house in Summerville in South Carolina, with Animal Control officials, who successfully fished the animal out of the pool on Wednesday. The police later discovered that the wallaby came from a neighbor’s property, where there were two other marsupials were kept as well.

  • Other
January 6, 2026
Morristown, TN

MORRISTOWN, TN –  A capuchin monkey named Chester recently caused chaos in a Tennessee music store, breaking open bags of food, ruining office supplies, and bashing three keyboards. Chester entered the business through a small pet door.

Fortunately, Chester did not damage any musical instruments or expensive items. However, he did leave a mess by turning on water faucets at four sinks, causing them to overflow.

Authorities later captured Chester, who is believed to have been stolen from a farm in Alabama and transported to the Morristown area, where he was sold.

  • Primates
January 5, 2026
San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Two beloved San Francisco Zoo animals were euthanized last week due to declining health, zoo officials said. Eno, a 34-year-old red-bellied lemur, and Freckles, a 19-year-old Magellanic penguin, were “ambassadors for their species.” Eno was being closely monitored after a kidney disease diagnosis, but his health had declined rapidly due to complications.

“In mid-December, staff noticed that Freckles was having trouble breathing and could no longer climb onto Penguin Island,” zoo officials said. He was examined by veterinary staff, given intensive care and round-the-clock monitoring to keep him comfortable and stable. His condition didn’t improve, however, and by Thursday, Freckles appeared confused and didn’t respond when staff approached, touched him, or called his name. “Despite treatment with several medications, his quality of life had declined significantly, and his condition placed him at a high risk of drowning if he were given access to a pool,” zoo officials said.

  • Primates
  • Other
January 4, 2026
Toronto, ID

TORONTO, CA – A giraffe born at a South Carolina zoo has died following a “tragic accident,” according to officials. On Thursday, Kiko, a Masai giraffe, was “given access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat,” officials explained. He then became caught in an opening door.

“Masai giraffes have relatively delicate heads supported by a six-foot neck capable of moving forward, backward, up, down, and side to side, allowing their head position to shift quickly,” the Toronto Zoo explained. “Despite the team’s immediate response, Kiko panicked and sustained injuries that, due to the unique anatomy of his species, proved fatal.”

  • Other
January 1, 2026
Williamstown, NJ

WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ – A 3-foot-tall wallaby named Rex was found safe near a Williamstown Walmart parking lot on Tuesday after he escaped the Lots of Love Farm earlier that day, according to the petting zoo. Rex was spotted by volunteers who went out to search for him and called in his location, the sanctuary noted.

The sanctuary announced the marsupial as missing early Tuesday, with a social media video saying “He is friendly but on the run.” Ron Layden, one of the owners of Lots of Love Farm, told local ABC station WPVI that Rex escaped when he was moved to a different enclosure due to the cold weather and “the cage didn’t get all the way shut.”

  • Other
December 17, 2025
Tulsa, OK

TULSA, OK – On X, the Tulsa police department shared a photo of a kangaroo standing in the middle of a local road. Police wrote, “Deputies are currently trying to catch a kangaroo that is loose on the road near 171st Street South and Lewis. If this animal belongs to you, call our dispatch center immediately at 918-596-5600. 🦘Drivers in this area, please use caution. ⚠️.”

Less than one hour later, the kangaroo’s owner arrived on the scene and helped deputies capture her. The kangaroo is named Martha. She escaped from a property not far from where she was captured. She’s now safe and is headed home with her owner.

  • Other
December 15, 2025
Palm Desert, CA

PALM DESERT, CA – The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is sharing good news tonight after one of its most recognizable residents made a brief escape. Pilly, a southern ground hornbill, was safely recovered and returned to the zoo after wandering off the grounds last Thursday.

Zoo officials say Pilly was located this morning at the Vintage Country Club following multiple reported sightings from local residents and animal care staff. Trained staff were able to recapture the bird without incident, and she was found to be unharmed.

  • Other
December 13, 2025
San Fernando, CA

SAN FERNANDO, CA – Two reindeer that were seen running loose on the 5 Freeway in the San Fernando area over the weekend are safe and back with their owner.

The reindeer, named Cookie and Noel, escaped from their transport trailer early Saturday, Dec. 13, and were spotted walking along the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway near the 118 Freeway. CHP said the reindeer had escaped from a transport trailer, prompting the party responsible for transporting them to return to the area to retrieve the animals.

In a Wednesday update, L.A. Animal Services said its officers also responded to the scene and, working alongside Caltrans crews and a good Samaritan, were able to successfully corral the reindeer.

Both animals were then transported to the West Valley Animal Services Center in Chatsworth, where they were examined and cared for before being released and reunited with their owner

  • Other
December 12, 2025
Washington, D.C., DC

WASHINGTON, DC – A binturong bit two National Zoo employees on Dec. 12, sending both to the hospital. The Washington D.C. zoo’s binturong Lola — a dog-sized mammal known as a bearcat that is native to Southeast Asia — was undergoing a routine weight check and training session with a staff member when the incident occurred on Dec. 12. The check took place in an area of the zoo that is closed to the public. Around 10 a.m. local time, the binturong bit the employee and “did not readily let go,” the National Zoo shared in a statement about the “safety incident.”

The staff member sustained “non-life-threatening injuries” during the attack. Another animal care specialist at the zoo stepped in to help. They removed Lola from the area and placed her in a separate enclosure. This second animal care staff member was bitten while moving the bearcat, the zoo stated. Both employees were sent to the hospital to have their injuries treated.

  • Other

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