Search Exotic Incidents Database

A woman found a 4-ft-long Burmese python in a Starbucks parking lot. The woman took the snake to a nearby Petco store.

A small caiman was discovered on a patio in the 4S Ranch development. The County Department of Animal Services captured the caiman and turned him over to the North County Animal Shelter.

A 52-year-old African elephant called Petal died at the Philadelphia Zoo. The exact cause of her death was unknown, pending a necropsy. However, in-stall video monitoring tapes showed that early in the morning Petal’s right rear leg had buckled, causing her to collapse. She was found by zookeepers later in the morning, lying on her side in her stall. Zookeepers attempted to get her to stand, but she died just a few hours later. According to a zoo official “Petal had been in excellent health … showing no recent signs of illness or decline.”

A mother discovered a California king snake coiled around her baby’s leg. The snake was safely removed by Animal Control officers and the child suffered no injuries. It was believed that the snake found its way into a mattress recently purchased by the family.

Zoo Nebraska lost its federal license and tried to sell or give away its exotic animals. The zoo was closed since September 2005 when three chimpanzees excaped and had to be shot.

Wildlife officials ordered everyone out of the water near the barrier island to capture a 6-ft-long American crocodile. A spokesman for the Department of Natural Resouces said that the crocodile either escaped or was released by someone illegally.

A “pet” monkey nearly bit off the finger of a Queens toddler. The possessor was arrested and the illegally held “pet” monkey was euthanized. Attempts to reattach the toddler’s finger failed due to blood not circulating in the severed finger.

Two elephants were spooked by tornados and escaped the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus. Both entered backyards with one taking the branches off a tree and another drinking water from a bird bath. Fortunately no one was hurt in this incident. One elephant was coaxed into a truck while the other had to be tranquilized.

WildCare Foundation picked up a diamondback rattlesnake whose mouth was sewn shut. The Foundation’s vet removed the stitches and discovered the snake’s fangs had also been removed. They placed the snake with an appropriate reptile facility.

An animal handler was taken to the hospital for stitches after being scratched and bitten by Katie, a 16-year-old lioness at the Detroit Zoo. The keeper used pepper spray to fend off Katie during the attack. An investigation by the zoo into the incident was planned.