March 31, 2003 Hennepin, IL The owner of Second Nature Exotic Cats Sanctuary was attacked and killed by one of two tigers he released from a building into a penned enclosure for exercise. Police shot both tigers to rescue the wounded and bleeding man, only to discover he was already dead. A search of the property found a third tiger, a lion, and a cougar. Big Cats
March 30, 2003 Cascade County, MT Two wolf-hybrids escaped from their home and killed a llama. The wolf-hybrids were subsequently located and returned to their possessor. Other
March 23, 2003 Sacramento, CA Castro, a 325-pound Sumatran tiger at the Sacramento Zoo, attacked a 30-year-old zookeeper at feeding time. The zookeeper was hospitalized in fair condition with puncture wounds on his neck, right shoulder, and left leg. Big Cats
March 23, 2003 Red Wing, MN A 5-month-old, 40-pound tiger cub at Grant Oly’s Tiger Zone grabbed and bit a pregnant woman on the wrist, causing a puncture wound, and bit a 16-year-old girl. The tiger was euthanized a couple months later for rabies testing. Grant Oly was charged with misdemeanors. Big Cats
March 21, 2003 Lincoln, NE Fort Worth, a 7-year-old Shetland pony with the Shrine Circus, bolted through the auditorium’s back door during a performance. The pony ran against traffic down the middle of the street before pedestrians were able to catch him. Other
March 18, 2003 Los Angeles, CA Actress Elisha Cuthbert was badly bitten by a mountain lion being used on the set of 24. She was treated and released. Big Cats
March 13, 2003 Amherst, NY A kangaroo named Roo on the loose was observed near a golf course. Police were successful in capturing him. Other
March 13, 2003 20th Century Fox television set, A trained mountain lion bit actress Elisha Cuthbert on set of the television series 24. The trainer instructed Cuthbert to befriend the animal, but the lion sank his teeth into Cuthbert’s hand. Cuthbert was treated for puncture wounds and received a tetanus shot. Big Cats
March 13, 2003 Tampa, FL A shark at the Florida Aquarium bit a woman who put her hand into the shark tank. Less than 2 feet long, the shark was part of a petting tank exhibit, but was then removed from the petting tank. Marine