June 3, 2009 Las Vegas, NV Sgt. Pepper, a 2-year-old dolphin at the Mirage Hotel, succumbed to a lung infection. He was the 14th dolphin to die at the Mirage Hotel. Marine
June 1, 2009 Tigard, OR A 10-year-old bobcat who had escaped her possessor temporarily was located about a half mile from her home and recaptured. The possessor did not want to be identified but had the necessary permits. Small Cats
May 28, 2009 Calabasas, CA Two 10-year-old boys reported seeing a lemur in their backyard earlier this month. The boys were eating a picnic lunch when they heard noises. The lemur jumped out of the tree and started running. Primates
May 25, 2009 Lisbon, OH An elementary school student was attacked when she walked into a caged area where a “pet” mountain lion was kept. The child’s injuries are not serious. Police were investigating to see if charges should be brought against possessor. Big Cats
May 24, 2009 Great Bend, KS Human error resulted in the death of Great Bend Zoo’s 14-year-old female mountain lion. Though she was not a threat to the public, the zoo director requested police shoot and kill her because she had history of being aggressive. Big Cats
May 24, 2009 Memphis, TN A zookeeper suffered a serious bite to his upper right calf when he came in contact with 3-year-old Kumari, one of the Memphis Zoo’s Bengal tigers. The keeper was transported in noncritical condition to a local hospital. The zoo was investigating the incident. Big Cats
May 21, 2009 Orem, UT A semi-truck driver lost control, crashing and damaging a pen that housed a rare Cassowary bird. Authorities followed a blood trail and recovered the injured bird. Other
May 19, 2009 Hohenwald, TN A 21 year old Asian elephant dies at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. “Ned” was confiscated by USDA because he was severely malnourished. A necropsy showed ulcers in Ned’s intestine, pancreas and other organs. The director of the sanctuary blamed Ned’s digestive problems on the stress of circus life. Elephants
May 17, 2009 St. Helens, OR A local resident reported her 3-ft-long alligator missing from her residence. Reptiles
May 16, 2009 Punta Gorda, FL A police officer stopped traffic to rescue a 4-1/2-ft-long python. The snake died shortly after being taken to the Peace River Wildlife Rehab Center. The snake had suffered a broken jaw and other injuries. Reptiles