May 15, 2009 Chicago, IL Affie, a female African elephant about to turn 40, died after her keepers at the Brookfield Zoo found her lying on her side, unable to stand. Affie’s death was still undiagnosed but a necropsy was scheduled to be performed. Elephants
May 8, 2009 Green County, MO Two Japanese snow macaques escaped after a storm-damaged tree struck their enclosure. Authorities investigated but didn’t consider it a criminal violation and worked with the possessors to recapture the monkeys. **UPDATE 06/05/09 – One of the two monkeys died after being hit by a car. The monkey was found on a rural road near Pleasant Hope. Primates
May 6, 2009 Chittenango, NY A wallaroo escaped from its possessor and was on the loose. Traps were set but the animal eluded them. Other
April 25, 2009 Toledo, OH 22-year-old Shani, a female western lowland gorilla, was found dead in an off-exhibit holding area at the Toledo Zoo. A necropsy revealed liver involvement but did not provide a definitive cause of death. Primates
April 24, 2009 Springfield, MO Officials investigated a man’s allegations that his neighbor’s escaped monkey lunged at him. The neighbors were questioned in connection with the monkey’s escape. The monkey was recaptured without incident. Primates
April 24, 2009 Calhan, CO A volunteer named Michael McCain was bitten by a tiger while cleaning out one of the cages. The tiger’s head was beaten with a shovel. The bite was on the arm and not life-threatening. Big Cats
April 21, 2009 Corpus Christi, TX Animal Control officials confiscated and quarantined a monkey after he bit his possessor who was transporting the animal to Michigan. The man suffered minor injuries and was expected to recover. Primates
April 18, 2009 Salem, OR A 6-year-old girl suffered two puncture wounds just below her left eye when she attempted to pet a monkey at Riverfront Park. The monkey’s possessor took the monkey and fled. The police were searching for the possessor. Child was treated and released. **Update 04/21/09: The possessor was found and showed that the monkey was his service monkey. The child had been warned not to pet him but didn’t listen. The monkey was quarantined for six months. Primates
April 11, 2009 Utica, NY A wolf bit a 2-year-old child during a show at Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Lodge. The wolf’s handler had a history of violations in connection with his animals. The wolf was euthanized to test for rabies. The child was treated and released. Other
April 8, 2009 Little Rock, AR A Little Rock Zoo veterinarian euthanized a female zebra that crashed into a gate and broke her neck while being moved to a new exhibit. Other