Search Exotic Incidents Database

A 300-lb black bear escaped from its cage and was later recaptured.

A wild cat attacked a woman’s parked car. Police suspected that the wild cat escaped from a private home.

Wayne Newton’s “pet” wallaby escaped from her home and led police and Animal Control on a 2-mile chase before she was recaptured.

Rosey, an 18 year-old lion at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, was found dead in her cage by a night watchman. She had been attacked and killed by two other lions who entered her cage after a zoo worker left a gate open. The zoo worker was suspended for 5 days.

A 7-ft-long alligator at Gatorland bit a handler on the face during preparation for the park’s Gator Wrestling Show. The handler was in fair condition with a gash to the face. The handler had 4 years of experience handling large reptiles at the park.

(May through July, 2003) Gentoo penguins regularly escaped by launching themselves over the Plexiglas barrier separating their man-made lagoon from a public walkway at the St. Louis Zoo. The yellow-footed penguins struck several visitors.

A man was attacked by his water buffalo. The water buffalo was shot and killed.

An alligator bit an animal handler at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus while being moved from a public viewing pit outside the arena. The handler suffered six punctures to his right hand. The audience at the performance was unaware of the occurrence.

A polar bear escapes from a holding area at the Denver Zoo, forcing a temporary lockdown. Veterinarians shot the bear with a tranquilizer dart and returned it to the enclosure.

A “pet” monkey, Willie, escaped and was loose for several days before being recaptured at a home two miles from where he escaped. Willie was relocated to a primate sanctuary in Texas.