Search Exotic Incidents Database

A 3-week-old boy was admitted to the hospital with a fever, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea of 15 days’ duration. The boy was diagnosed with Salmonella, which he received from the family’s “pet” iguana.

A “pet” iguana attacked his possessor by biting her nose. The woman required more than 30 stitches and $14,000 in plastic surgery.

A “pet” lion escaped from her enclosure after being released during an apparent burglary. The lion chased a youth into a convenience store and then jumped into a pickup truck bed carrying another youth. In 1987, the lion bit a man repeatedly.

A small alligator was spotted in Mountain Lake in San Francisco. A long search by San Francisco Zoo officials, assisted by a professional alligator hunter from Florida, ended with the animal’s capture. It was placed on exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo before being flown to a Louisiana wildlife sanctuary and released.

A family’s 9-ft-long “pet” python, Calena, wrapped around a woman’s stomach and bit her buttocks. In order to free the woman, paramedics used a hacksaw to remove the snake’s head. The woman was 8 months pregnant and sought medical attention from her family physician. The python has not been kept in a cage.

Hattie, an Asian elephant on loan with Circus Vargas, died while in transit back to her owners, the Hawthorn Corp. Hattie was last made to perform on 8/3/96, the next day her legs gave way beneath her as she was being unloaded. She died 8/6/96 inside a transport trailer. Another Hawthorn elephant died 3 days earlier of tuberculosis.

A 47 year old Asian elephant named Joyce died soon after a dental procedure involving anesthesia. Her autopsy revealed an advanced case of tuberculosis. Joyce was used for performances until the evening that she died. Another Hawthorn elephant died 3 days later.

A Bengal tiger from the Cincinnati Zoo mauled the 7-year-old daughter of the zoo education director as the animal was about to appear on a television show with the girl’s father. The girl suffered injuries to her face and scalp.

A 4-ft-long red-tailed boa constrictor, Casey, escaped from her cage through a small hole. The snake was missing and presumed to be slithering through the neighborhood. This is the third time Casey had escaped in four years.

A worker at the Orange County Fair scaled a safety fence and put his arm into the cage of three Bengal tigers with the Commerford Petting Zoo. A female tiger bit down on the man’s arm, causing lacerations to his hand and wrist.