Search Exotic Incidents Database

SEATTLE, WA – A young tree kangaroo at Woodland Park Zoo is recovering after veterinarians amputated her right arm to stop a rapidly spreading bacterial infection.

Poppy, a female Matschie’s tree kangaroo, underwent the surgery last week after a CT scan showed the bacteria spreading. A team of animal health experts removed her right arm.

The zoo said it is unknown when or how she originally contracted the bacteria, but it is not contagious, and no other animals or humans are at risk of contracting it from her.

MIAMI, FL – A routine procedure to prepare an antelope for transfer to another facility took an unexpected turn when a Zoo Miami employee began experiencing symptoms of illness, prompting the zoo to administer Narcan and rush the staff member to a nearby hospital.

The incident happened while the employee was helping secure a greater kudu antelope’s head after the animal had been immobilized so a veterinarian could perform tests ahead of their transfer. The drugs used to immobilize the animal included thiafentanil, a potent opioid. While the zoo has not confirmed what caused the employee’s symptoms, officials said they were concerned the worker may have accidentally come into contact with the drug through the animal’s saliva.

As a precaution, the employee was given Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid exposure, before being taken to Jackson South Medical Center for further evaluation. The staff member was stable and remained under medical observation, according to the zoo.

NEWFOUNDLAND, CA – Newfoundland officials confirmed that Tallulah, a nine-year-old river otter at Salmonier Nature Park, remains alive and contained. Documents released recently revealed the park previously considered euthanizing the animal following behavioral incidents.

Following an attempted transfer, Tallulah escaped a live trap, bit a caretaker, and tore a staff member’s boot during retrieval. Staff described the holding area as ‘Alcatraz’ due to security flaws.
Park staff attempted to re-home Tallulah at the Toronto Zoo and Two Rivers Wildlife Park, but both facilities declined.

The provincial Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands maintains Tallulah in a secure area under constant observation. Officials are working with veterinarians to determine the best long-term course of action.

ATLANTA, GA – Zuri, the first southern white rhino born at Zoo Atlanta, has died after a brief illness.

Despite intensive treatment and an emergency blood transfusion, the zoo said that the 2-year-old female died Friday, Nov. 6, after a sharp decline in her health and behavior. Blood tests showed severe anemia, according to the zoo.

Veterinarians treated Zuri with compatible blood from Dakari, an adult female rhino at Zoo Atlanta, and blood donated by other accredited facilities. Her condition continued to worsen despite that care. The cause of her illness has not been determined.

EAST BRAINERD, TN – T’challa, a non-releasable bobcat who escaped an East Brainerd wildlife rescue, For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue, has been located.

For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue said on Tuesday afternoon that T’challa made it home safely and unharmed. His owner found him in the woods, and he followed them back to his pen. Rescue staff said T’challa jumped over their perimeter fence, despite it having a hot wire.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – he Audubon Zoo announced Monday, Nov. 2, that one of its giraffes has died.

According to Zoo officials, Fennessy, a four-year-old giraffe, experienced a decline in his overall health, including refusing to eat and lethargy. Despite receiving examinations and supportive care, his condition worsened. Zoo officials said the decision was made to euthanize him.

Initial examination results for the cause of the decline were inconclusive, zoo officials said. A necropsy will be done in an effort to gather additional information.

PALM DESERT, CA – Kali, a 12-year-old cheetah and a favorite at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, died, zoo officials announced Sunday.

The big cat was being treated for kidney disease, “when a routine exam showed that her kidney values were slightly elevated, which is common in aging cats,” zoo officials wrote. “Then, in recent weeks, her care team noticed that she was drinking more water, eating less and showing possible neurological symptoms, so her planned recheck exam was moved up. Sadly, the CT scan revealed kidney failure and a large mass in her skull that was likely affecting her neurologically.

The veterinary team decided to euthanize Kali.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara Zoo is mourning the loss of its capybara, Antonio. In August, it was reported that he was battling multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer that originates in the plasma cells of the bone marrow.

Zoo officials said their veterinary team worked with a local veterinary oncologist to develop a chemotherapy regimen to give him the best chance of remission. During his last few days, however, his health sharply declined. He faced progressive limb weakness, which was severely affecting his quality of life. The zoo decided to euthanize him.

BENTONVILLE, AR – Jacob Reid found a boa constrictor outside a garage at the Glen at Polo Park apartments after coming home from work on Thursday. He gathered up the reptile and contacted the apartment manager to see if they knew of anyone who had a pet snake. Once they located the owner in the same apartment complex, they retrieved the snake.

The snake’s owner told her there had been an issue with the animal’s enclosure, and the animal had been able to escape.

ST PAUL, MN – Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is once again mourning the passing of an animal friend. The Zoo says Skeeter the giraffe was euthanized earlier this week after a decline in health related to arthritis.

Skeeter was a member of the zoo’s collection for 16 years and leaves behind a legacy of eight calves. The zoo says Skeeter’s arthritis increasingly limited his mobility and made it hard for him to lie down and rest comfortably.