Search Exotic Incidents Database

A caseworker visiting the home of Evelyn Shaw, who was working to adopt her two nieces, was bitten on the finger by Ms. Shaw’s pet mountain lion. Ms. Shaw, who was active in opposing the exotics ban legislation in Ohio, had falsely assured the investigator that the lion was declawed and had no teeth. Ms. Shaw stated she would euthanize the animal because of this incident.

A baby chimpanzee was killed by an adult male chimpanzee inside their enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo. The incident was witnessed by zoo visitors.

A polar bear and two seals escaped their enclosure due to the heavy rains flooding the Lake Superior Zoo. Duluth residents spotted the animals and called authorities, who in turn called zoo officials. The animals were all caught. Thirteen animals died from drowning at the zoo.

The USDA is investigating the matter of two dolphins dying within 3 months of each other at SeaWorld Orlando.

Police officers found nine Savannah hybrid cats and a serval in a house after a man reported seeing a serval in the basement. Police say the floor was covered with urine and feces throughout the house and the property owner now faces 10 counts of animal cruelty charges. One Savannah cat was euthanized after it bit an officer. The remaining cats were released to East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue.

Police are investigating the theft of five snakes and a chameleon from the World Aquarium in downtown St. Louis. A 6-foot Albino Boa Constrictor, a 5-foot Brazilian Rainbow Boa Constrictor, a 4-foot California Kingsnake, a 4-1/2 foot Dumeril’s Boa, a 2-foot Ball Python, and a veiled chameleon. In 2004, two former City Museum employees stole a two-headed rat snake and were caught.

An emaciated 5-foot jungle carpet python was found in a Myrtle Beach motel room by a maintenance worker. Animal Control was called, but upon learning that the snake would be euthanized, an individual familiar with snakes, Russell Cavender, was called. Russell took the snake to be rehomed. It is believed that the snake had been kept in captivity all its life.

Two harbor seals (named Nunavut and Atlantis) on their way from a Canadian theme park, Storybook Gardens, to the St. Louis Zoo died in transit. The two seals were part of a group four seals being transported. One seal was discovered dead enroute, and another ailing seal was taken to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, which was the closest zoo. The second seal died at the zoo. A third seal, Cri Cri, was transported to the Indianapolis Zoo, which employes a staff of marine mammal specialists. Cri Cri was diagnosed as having severe exertional myopathy, a form of muscle-tissue damage caused by stress. The prognosis was not good. A fourth seal, Peanut, was able to travel through to the St. Louis Zoo and appears to be healthy.

Zoo officials do not know what went wrong in the 12-hour drive.

A woman faces criminal wildlife charges after she bought a monkey to help draw out her autistic son. Kentucky wildlife officials charged Collins with propagation, holding of wildlife without a permit, and tampering with evidence after she sent the monkey away for safekeeping. Officials want to see the monkey to test for hepatitis-B. The monkey is now at an undisclosed sanctuary.

Two wolves kept as pets escaped their enclosure. One was shot and killed that day, the other wolf killed a pet Boston terrier on June 14th, then was captured on July 8th by a snare trap set by the wolf’s guardian. Charges may be pending.