Search Exotic Incidents Database

Several sightings were made of a cougar on the loose. It was suspected that there might be two cougars and that they were escaped or dumped “pets.”

A man released his “pet” tiger near the town of Erbie along the Buffalo River. The tiger found his way back home, trekking some 60 miles of wilderness. The man subsequently relinquished the tiger to a wildlife sanctuary.

A kangaroo found 50 miles west of Madison was captured.

A worker for Animals of Montana (a company that rents out trained wildlife and exotics) sustained injuries when he was attacked by one of the resident mountain lions. The injury was originally reported as a scratch, however, doctors later noted that it was a scalp laceration that cut down to the worker’s skull and could have killed him had another worker not stepped in and sprayed the lion with bear spray.

Tara, an African elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo, died unexpectedly. Born in East Africa in 1965, Tara was brought to the Los Angeles Zoo in 1966. Necropsy was being performed to determine the cause of death.

A man and his dog were attacked by a wolf hybrid while walking in their neighborhood. The dog did not survive the attack.

A Bengal tiger with the Great Circus of China bit and mangled a circus worker’s hand after the worker got too close to the tiger’s cage. The woman was rushed to the hospital and recovered.

A man was bitten by his cobra during a feeding session. The man received antivenin and survived.

A chimpanzee with the Hadi Shrine Circus bit a circus guest during a pre-show picture event with guests and animals. The guest was treated at the hospital for a puncture wound and released. Circus officials reported that the chimpanzee was unprovoked.

A 6-year-old male jaguar killed his 18-year-old female companion at the Sedgwick County Zoo. After a long introduction process, zookeepers believed the jaguars were ready for cohabitation. The jaguars were placed on exhibit together with no access to their holding pens. The 165-pound male killed his 130-pound female companion within hours.