Search Exotic Incidents Database

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.

A man was trying to sell or give away two bear cubs displayed at a gas station. The man claimed he shot the mother in self defense when the family of bears came onto his property. The man claims the mother bear ran away after being shot. Although officials found blood on the property, they could not find the bear and she is presumed dead. CA Fish and Game officials are trying to validate the man’s story. The cubs were confiscated by Fish and Game and will be rehabilitated, hopefully to be released back into the wild. They are thought not to be ideal candidates because they have now been around humans.

A western mountain lion being kept as a pet escaped its enclosure and killed a neighbor’s dog. The cougar was returned to its enclosure – no legal actions have been taken to date.

A New Bedford landlord discovered an alligator and a pit bull while he was clearing out an abandoned apartment. The animals were being kept as pets, then abandoned. The former owners will be charged with possessing an illegal animal and animal cruelty. The alligator was taken to a sanctuary and the pit bull to a rescue group.

Rinny, a 4-year-old Malayan tapir, was found wandering outside her enclosure in the Toyota Elephant Passage. She escaped by squeezing between cables that surrounded her space. A gate to her home area was opened and she walked back inside after 5 minutes.

Jozu, SeaWorld’s last false killer whiale is critically ill. Jozu is the last surviving false killer whale in the Continental U.S. Born in captivity, she has lived at the Orlando facility since 1976. Jozu at 17 is considered a young false killer whale since these whales have a mzsimum longevity of 63 years. The cause of illness is unknown.

Jozu’s illness follows the death of Sully, the pilot whale, who died at the San Diego facility on May 23 of unknown causes.

A Lucerne Valley man was in critical but stable condition after he was bitten by a rattlesnake he had been keeing as a pet for over 10 years.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announced its 3-and-a-half month old baby gorilla died over the weekend. Cause is still unknown. He was the first gorilla born at the zoo since 2001.

A woman discovered a caiman in the Cooper River waterway while kayaking. She called her friend, who is reptile enthusiast, who came and got the caiman. It is thought to be a former pet no longer wanted and let go.

Pennsylvania authorities were searching for the owner of a runaway wallaby after officials captured the animal on a rural road. The animal is currently being cared for at a licensed animal facility until its owner is idenfied.