Search Exotic Incidents Database

A 28-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after being bitten by his “pet” Gabon viper. The man was giving the snake some water and was moving the bowl toward the snake when it attacked. The man was treated with antivenin and underwent surgery to repair severe damage to his hand. At the time of the incident, the man was president of the Western Maryland Herpetological Society. The snake was subsequently destroyed. This incident was one of several dangerous snakebites that occurred in the Washington, DC area in past 10 years.

Two trainers at Marine World wild animal park were slightly injured when the two cougars they were exercising attacked.

A “pet” monkey bit a child while the possessor was giving a demonstration at a school.

A “pet” vervet monkey bit an Animal Control officer during an inspection. The monkey had earlier scratched its “owner” and his son. The monkey was impounded and transferred to the Alabama Zoo.

A Sumatran tiger burst through a chain-link fence and attacked an animal handler at the Fort Worth Zoo, sending him to the hospital with cuts and scratches.

A father’s “pet” cougar mauled a 3-year-old toddler and his 6-year-old sister. The father had just finished feeding the cougar when the animal ran through the open cage and attacked the girl. After the children were freed, the cougar attacked two neighborhood dogs.

Two tigers mauled a man who entered their enclosure at the Memphis Zoo.

A “pet” Bengal tiger mauled and critically injured a 3-year-old boy while the father walked the animal on a leash. The boy required 18 hours of surgery. One side of the boy’s head was partially crushed. The boy’s father shot the tiger and was convicted of misdemeanor child abuse as a result of the incident.

A 3-year-old male cougar, Charlie, escaped after pushing open his cage, forcing teachers at three nearby schools to keep the students in their classrooms. The cat was recaptured an hour after he got loose.

Then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was bitten on the chin while holding a baby cougar.