Search Exotic Incidents Database

Hundreds of snakes, birds, and other animals were discovered in the home of Daniel Kopulos, who ran an exotic pet shop in New York. Police found the animals in filthy conditions, without food or water. More than 100 of them were dead. Kopulos was charged with animal cruelty.

A man released 2 ball pythons in a neighborhood, and 12 more in an unpopulated area off I-20. According to the snakes’ owner, he released them because he was upset with her. Two pythons were found, and he was charged with one count of unlawful release/escape of a wild animal.

An 18-year-old African lion named Jonathan died after veterinarians discovered a “serious blood clotting issue” and a low white-blood-cell count the night before.

Veterinarians amputated the left front leg of Petra, a 16-year-old Malayan tiger, after she was injured by a male tiger through a fence.

A 5-foot ball python was found trying to enter a home. Animal control officers captured the snake, who they believe was a pet. If his owner does not come forward, he will be rehomed.

A man found a python in his backyard. After not receiving assistance from state police or animal control agencies, he called an an officer with the southwest region of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who drove all the way from Ligonier, Westmoreland County, to get the snake. They believe the python, who is now being held at a reptile rescue shelter, was a pet.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries seized Darwin, a pet spider monkey, from his owner. Louisiana law bans private ownership of primates, but the owner argued that Darwin should be grandfathered in since she had him before the law went into effect in April of 2006. Darwin was temporarily placed in the custody of a zoo, and his former owner unsuccessfully fought the seizure in court until April 2017, at which point Darwin went to a sanctuary.

Austin, an 11-year-old black-capped capuchin monkey, escaped from a play pen in his owner’s suburban backyard. Despite search efforts by his owner, there have been no sightings.

A 5-6 foot snake was spotted under under a porch in a residential neighborhood. Someone believed to be the snake’s owner went door-to-door asking if anyone had seen it.

A pet caracal named Ameera escaped from a home, causing the nearby elementary school to go on lockdown. The cat returned after a day.