October 30, 1998 Los Angeles, CA A flamingo walked out of its exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo and roamed around the public area for about three minutes before the zoo opened. Other
October 8, 1998 Cut and Shoot, TX Two tigers kept at a private residence escaped when the door to their pen was left open. One tiger was shot after he killed a neighbor’s hog. The other tiger attacked a dog that was tied to a chain. Big Cats
October 7, 1998 Gainesville, FL A tiger with Ron and Joy Holiday’s Cat Dancers killed his trainer after being startled while being moved from one cage to another. 5 weeks later, same tiger kills owner by biting her neck while hand feeding. Big Cats
September 29, 1998 Slidell, LA A “pet” vervet monkey ran wild, knocked over a lamp and attacked the “owner,” biting her arm and scratching her legs. A police officer subdued the monkey after the monkey threw a picture frame at him and attacked him. Primates
September 28, 1998 Dallas, TX A 340-pound gorilla escaped from his room at the Dallas Zoo, raided the kitchen, bit a keeper and then dragged her down a hallway. Primates
September 20, 1998 Oklahoma City, OK A tapir (a large hoglike animal) pulled an Oklahoma City Zoo keeper into her cage and bit her arm off as the keeper tried to feed the animal. The woman also suffered facial injuries and a punctured lung. Although the cause of attack is unknown, the tapir’s baby was also in the cage at the time. Other
September 6, 1998 Gainesville, FL A 5-ft-long “pet” python bit a woman’s fingers as she attempted to pet him. The snake then knotted himself around the woman’s lower forearm and would not let go until firefighters discharged three blasts of carbon dioxide into the snake’s face. Reptiles
September 3, 1998 Cincinnati, OH A “pet” cougar was discovered roaming a neighborhood after he had been stolen from his enclosure. Big Cats
September 2, 1998 Richmond, VA A boa constrictor was found lying in the middle of the westbound travel lane of West Grace Street. Police officers were called to the scene and coaxed the snake into a Supercan closer. The “owner” of the snake was unknown, but the snake was believed to be somebody’s “pet.” The snake was taken to the SPCA to be cared for. Reptiles
August 29, 1998 Citrus Park, FL A black leopard attacked a volunteer worker attempting to pet the animal through a cage at Wildlife on Easy Street. The wounds to the worker’s arm required 451 stitches to close. Big Cats