July 9, 1998 Madison, WI Two elephants at the Henry Vilas Zoo injured a zookeeper by picking him up, throwing him to the ground, and kneeling on him. One of the elephants had attacked zookeepers twice before. Elephants
May 22, 1998 Carson City, NV A 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old girl were severely bitten by their grandfather’s “pet” wolf hybrid. The 3-year-old was in intensive care for six nights. The grandfather was sentenced to six days in jail and 100 hours of community service for keeping a dangerous dog. Other
May 2, 1998 Wichita, KS Macaque monkey may have bitten a teenager at a store promotional event. The monkey was being tested for the herpes virus. Primates
April 21, 1998 Los Angeles, CA Two zebras broke the lock of their gate after hours and got out of their enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo. One zebra was herded back after 45 minutes, while the other had to be anesthetized. Other
April 7, 1998 Wylie, TX A neighbor’s “pet” cougar bit a 4-year-old boy on the leg while its “owner” was showing the cougar to several people. At the time of the incident, the cougar was caged. The boy was treated at a hospital for scratches and puncture wounds. Big Cats
April 2, 1998 Charlotte, NC A lion at the Charlotte Metro Zoo attacked and seriously injured a worker cleaning the animal’s cage. The worker suffered puncture wounds to both legs and the back of the head. Big Cats
March 8, 1998 Tulsa, OK Two elephants at the Tulsa Zoo pushed on the walls of their enclosure until the fence crumpled under their weight. Elephants
February 21, 1998 Reform, MO A 600-lb black bear, Big Max, kept as a caged “pet,” severed the hand of a 6-year-old boy at the boy’s grandfather’s farm. The boy was attempting to rub the bear’s nose at the time of incident. The bear had been kept as a “pet” for more than 10 years. Doctors were able to reattach the boy’s hand which was connected by only about an inch and a half of skin. Big Max was euthanized and tested for rabies. Bears
February 16, 1998 Indio, CA An elephant named Barbara was being led, along with some camels, to her place in the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival parade when a marching band spooked her. Barbara bolted back to her pen with Festival Queen Sheherazade on her back. No one was injured. Elephants
February 9, 1998 Lincolnton, NC A leopard attacked its trainer during a Royal Palace Circus show. Big Cats