Search Exotic Incidents Database

Nearly 400 fish and marine animals were killed, including their iconic sand tiger shark, after a chemical mix-up at the Texas State Aquarium.

A man was arrested for smuggling No. American wood turtles from the U.S. to Hong Kong. The man was part of a group working to smuggle turtles.

A five-foot, 50-pound alligator was found dead near a pond. The gator is believed to have been an exotic pet released by an irresponsible guardian and is presumed to have died in pain and in distress.

A pet macaw escaped from its cage and flew onto a nearby tree. The bird could not be coaxed back down.

A lion-tailed macaque named Tango was euthanized at the El Paso Zoo after being found unconscious with a head wound.

Austin Hatfield, 18, captured a water moccasin illegally and decided to keep the venomous snake as a pet. He kept the snake in a pillow case, and two days later was bitten on the face. Hatfield was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and required several antivenom treatments to survive. Family members killed the snake.

A 6-month-old lion cub escaped from his exhibit on the same day that the zoo’s two elephants (Chai and Bamboo) were being loaded for shipment to Oklahoma City. A zookeeper left a door open by mistake, allowing the male cub to enter a service area in the feline building, which is inaccessible to the public.

A 2-year old boy suffered a broken leg and other minor injuries when he fell into a cheetah exhibit after being dangled over the rail by his parents. Both parents quickly jumped into the exhibit to rescue the boy, then were rescued themselves. The parents are facing child endangerment charges.

A white lion named Sunshine died while under anesthesia for a vasectomy at the Cincinnati Zoo.

A 6-year old boy found a large, deceased yellow boa constrictor (or albino python) which measured over 10 feet long at Garner Park. It is not known how the snake ended up at the park as they are not native to Tennessee.