Search Exotic Incidents Database

Wildlife officers were investigating reports that a large, hairy primate (possibly an orangutan) was running loose in the woods. One officer spied the primate about 100 feet up a tree but declined to shoot a tranquilizer dart at it because the primate could suffer severe or fatal injuries from the fall.

FL Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials confiscated 5 tigers and a lion from a big-cat facility in Inverness, FL. Owner, Susan MacKay, has had numerious citations and violations in the past stemming back to 2005. The cats were sent to another private owner of cats who already owned 14 big cats and other exotic animals in his backyard that was only 2.5 acres.

A fire broke out at the Indianapolis Zoo’s Encounter Exhibit, killing an armadillo, some small birds, some turtles, and a snake. The surviving animals were treated at a local vet clinic and the exhibit remained closed until the cause of the fire could be determined.

A woman purchased a monkey from the Mt. Hope Animal Auction but later wanted to return her because the monkey had become aggressive. The pet shop owners told her that they couldn’t take the monkey back because USDA regulations required a 30-day quarantine.

Authorities seized a 3-year-old coatimundi. According to the state Fish and Game, exhibitors and other professionals may obtain special permits to possess a coatimundi but keeping one as a “pet” is prohibited.

Police raided two houses where thieves were hoarding exotic animals, including a Brazilian parrot and other exotic birds, a rare breed of small fox, an Australian wallaby, a fish tank of piranhas, and several wild cat breeds. A couple in their mid-20s was arrested. Several of the animals were returned to their rightful possessors.

Local health officials may have identified the possessor of a “pet” monkey that bit two children in a Columbia park, setting off a statewide primate hunt. A woman was wanted for questioning regarding the incident. See 09/28/07.

Authorities from Columbia County Animal Care are investigating an incident involving a 17-month-old toddler bitten by a baboon at the Columbia County Merchants Fall Fair. The mother took the child to her pediatrician for treatment.

At the San Antonio Zoo, an African elephant called Alport died at the age of 49. The cause of death was not immediately known, but her condition had deteriorated rapidly from the point at which keepers noticed she was not feeling well and was struggling to stand and walk. Alport had just been diagnosed with a serious orthopedic tear in her knee in the days prior to her death. Alport’s companion, Lucky, was now the sole elephant at this zoo.

An exotic African serval cat was removed from his possessor’s filthy and feces-ridden home. The cat was spied in a window by a passing neighbor who later reported the incident to police. The cat was extremely emaciated and was eating Styrofoam in an attempt to survive. The cat was turned over to the local SPCA and to be placed in a zoo or animal sanctuary. The possessor was due in court on 11/19/07.