Search Exotic Incidents Database

A 48-year-old Asian elephant, Donna, died suddenly at Hollywild Animal Park. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of death.

U.S. Marshals and High Point police were called to a motel room to serve a warrant. Inside the room officers found a fish tank with a 3-ft-long alligator and a 3-ft-long caiman.

Orkid, a 5,900 pound killer whale performing at SeaWorld San Diego grabbed senior trainer Brian Rokeach by the leg, pulled him to the bottom of the pool and held him under water for about 26 seconds. The trainer suffered a torn ankle ligament but was not hospitalized.

Two cougars at The Zoo of Northwest Florida escaped their enclosure due to broken fencing. The cougars were located by a helicopter equipped with heat-seeking sensors and recaptured after nearly three hours of freedom. No one was injured.

Medical personnel responding to a snake bite incident found 15 venomous snakes being kept by the injured man. DNR authorities confiscated the snakes. Possessor was charged with not having a permit to keep the dangerous snakes.

A zookeeper at The Zoo of Northwest Florida was injured by a 2-year-old leopard after getting too close to its cage. The zookeeper was treated for deep puncture wounds and lacerations to her hands at a local hospital.

A deer kept in a pen attacked and killed his 43-year-old possessor. The animal was among a half dozen deer penned up on the man’s property.

A “pet” primate broke out of the truck where he had been left. The young baboon unlocked the door of the truck and entered the building his “owner” had gone into. The Tower II building’s employees took care of the young baboon, named Able, and were able to track down his “owner” from the tag on one of the dogs who escaped along with the baboon. The other dog was loose and still missing. The baboon’s “owner” stated this incident had never happened before.

A 106-lb wolf that had eluded trackers was finally shot from the air. The wolf was tested for DNA samples and was the product of “human-manipulated breeding” in a domestic, captive situation, according to Montana Fish and Wildlife. The wolf was blamed for killing more than 120 sheep. If the wolf’s possessor were identified, he would be liable for damages, state widlife officials said.

Residents reported seeing a large black “panther”-like cat near their homes on Chester Street. Police reported getting information on the sighting but they could not confirm it.