February 27, 2014 San Antonio, TX Acoording to PETA, a 9-year old girl was bitten by a dolphin while she was trying to pet it at SeaWorld’s Dolphin Cove exhibit. The incident was captured on film Marine
February 26, 2014 Reidsville, NC 18-year old Kameron Burgess was bitten by a Canebrake rattlesnake that was being kept by his friend. The friend who owned the snake had several other poisonous snakes including an Eyelash Viper, Gaboon Viper, Rhino Viper, Brazilian Lance Head, Mojave Desert Side winder, Puff Adder Viper, Southern Copperhead, Neotropical Ragglesnake, Monocled Cobra and a Costa Rican Jumping Viper. The snakes were kept illegally and charges are anticipated at the conclusion of the investigation. Burgess was transported to a hospital for treatment. Reptiles
February 26, 2014 Columbia, MO An 18-inch ball python who went missing from its cage in a residence hall room of University of MO was found hiding inside a vacuume cleaner hose after three weeks. Reptiles
February 26, 2014 San Diego, CA A male koala escaped from his enclosure at the San Diego Zoo and spent the day sleepig in a tree above his exhibit. Zoo staff did not know how he managed to escape. The koala was lured back into his exhibit after the zoo closed for the day. Other
February 26, 2014 Calhan, CO According to a citation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, zookeepers failed to provide veterinary care to a tiger (Zara) who was observed to hair loss and dried blood on an area of her tail. Big Cats
February 26, 2014 Calhan, CO According to a citation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, zookeepers failed to provide veterinary care to a tiger (Baxter or Maverick) who was observed to have patchy hair loss and thickened skin on his right side from his neck to his hip. Big Cats
February 25, 2014 Chicago, IL John Basile, the owner of the Big Run Wolf Ranch in Lockport, was arrested and charged with reckless conduct and possession of a dangerous animal when he walked into a bar with a tiger. The animal was restrained only by a leash and unmuzzeled. Big Cats
February 16, 2014 Middlesboro, KY A snake-handling pastor who appeared on a National Geographic television show died after being bitten by one of the rattle snakes he used to perform during his services. Paramedics were called later to his home, but he refused services and dies later that night. Poisonous snakes are used at his congregation to prove their unwaivering faith. His son told authorities that his dad had been bitten 8 times prior to the one that killed him. Reptiles
February 7, 2014 Waterbury, CT Authorities arrested a Connecticut mom and took away her pet marmoset after it scratched the woman’s 10-year old daughter. State law prohibits residents from owning primates that weigh more than 50 pounds. The woman was charged with illegal possession of an exotic or dangerous animal. The marmoset was confiscated. Primates
January 27, 2014 Gentry, AR A inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that an adult spider monkey had lost tissue on his back toes, exposing bone. Additionally, an adult male Hamadryas baboon had a lesion on his genitals, and an adult male Western baboon had a lesion on his finger. An adult male rhesus macaque was not using his right arm while he walked, and kept it tucked in close to his body. Primates