April 9, 2005 St. Joseph, MO A young girl was bitten by a 5-ft-long python during an educational presentation at “Experience Western” on the Missouri Western State College campus. The display also included an alligator, a chameleon, a tarantula, and a turtle. The girl was treated at a local hospital and released. Reptiles
April 9, 2005 Huntington, WV A 13-year-old girl suffered injuries after being bitten by a capuchin monkey. The monkey bit the girl’s kneecap and finger. Primates
March 20, 2005 Thackery, IL A 4-year-old girl was recovering from injuries she sustained when she was bitten by a cougar. The girl reached into a pen that housed the “pet” cougar and the animal bit the girl’s hand and arm. Big Cats
March 18, 2005 Wichita, KS A colobus monkey named Alley escaped from the Sedgewick County Zoo after finding a small hole in the roof of netting surrounding her enclosure. She was secured by staff within two hours. Primates
March 17, 2005 Campe Verde, AZ Two North American wolves attacked their animal handler inside an exhibit at the Out of Africa Wildlife Park. The woman was airlifted to the hospital after she suffered major injuries to her arms and legs, requiring surgery. Other
March 17, 2005 Reading, PA A serval cat who escaped from her home was recaptured some five hours later. Small Cats
March 15, 2005 Orlando, FL A man was arrested while traveling in Florida and faced charges for having a tiger cub and a cougar cub without the required permits. The cubs, placed in the McCarthy Wildlife Sanctuary in Florida, were not to be released to the man unless he secured the necessary permits. The man was co-owner of Arcangel Wildlife in Underwood, MN, which was under investigation after a girl was hurt by a tiger earlier in the month. See 03/03/05 incident. Big Cats
March 3, 2005 Underwood, MN A 16-year-old girl babysitting for the co-owner of Arcangel Wildlife was injured when she petted one of the ten tigers on the property. The tiger caused lacerations to her hand that required 12 stitches. A serious infection set in and she needed three successive operations to her hand. Big Cats
February 28, 2005 Caliente, CA Two chimpanzees escaped their cages and attacked a man and a woman who were visiting another chimpanzee at the Animal Haven Ranch. The man was severely mauled, requiring extensive surgery, and the woman lost as finger. An Animal Haven employee fatally shot two of the chimpanzees to stop the attack. The other two chimps remained loose for several hours before being recaptured. Primates