Search Exotic Incidents Database

Two lions at the Bronx Zoo mauled a man who climbed into their cage. The man received 19 stitches to his head and face.

A lion attacked a Circus Vargas employee who was feeding a group of three lions at a Las Vegas residence.

While visiting Ringling Bros’s elephant breeding compound, world famous elephant trainer Axel Gautier was stomped to death by an elephant.

Tyke, described in the 08/94 incident, injured a young girl while charging through the arena during a Great American Circus performance.

A Siberian tiger with Jordan Brothers Circus escaped into the stands during a Shrine-sponsored circus performance. A 13-year-old girl was bitten, with seven puncture wounds on back of her leg.

Graham Thomas Chipperfield, a trainer with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus was badly mauled by a lioness called Sheba during a training session. Chipperfield retired in 1998 after he shot dead another tiger that attacked his brother.

An elephant keeper at the San Antonio Zoo was killed when an elephant grabbed the man and slammed him to the ground. The keeper was bending down to unfasten the elephant from its tether in the yard when the incident occurred.

A tiger attacked a Circus Vargas trainer, causing severe injuries.

Before a performance of the Zuhria Shrine Circus, elephant rides were given. After several trips with children and adults on her back, an elephant lost her balance and grabbed at a trainer with her trunk. One child suffered a scrape on the leg. The trainer suffered a gash on the upper leg and was taken to the hospital. Elephant rides were again performed at intermission and after show.

Tyke, the elephant described in a 08/20/94 incident, trampled an elephant show worker at the North Dakota State Fair, breaking two of his ribs.