February 11, 2008 DeKalb, AL Three exotic cats, including a mountain lion, African lion, and tiger found in the backyard of a home in Winfield were confiscated and turned over to an exotic animal shelter. A humane society investigator was on a call about a cruelty case involving a monkey when the cats were discovered. Big Cats
February 10, 2008 Palm Beach, FL A 300-pound, 3-year-old Malayan tiger named Mata bit the finger of a zookeeper at the Palm Beach Zoo. The zookeeper was rewarding Mata with a treat at the time. Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators believed the keeper deviated from protocol by using her fingers to extend the treat instead of holding her palm flat with the treat on it. Though the keeper did not lose part of her finger, a surgeon was called to repair the damage. Big Cats
February 10, 2008 Findlay, OH A 4-ft-long iguana named Godzilla escaped from her possessor’s home when someone opened the front door and she fled. Reptiles
February 9, 2008 Tampa, FL Brenda Chapman, a worker at the Horseshoe Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, was attacked by a tiger who mauled her left leg and right hand while she was cleaning its cage. Darrell Atkinson, the founder of the sanctuary, was charged with keeping a tiger in a substandard cage by FL FWC. The case marks the 43rd tie the FWC has filed charges against Atkinson since 1993. Big Cats
February 6, 2008 Hesperia, CA More than 200 reptiles including 2 gila monsters were discovered abandoned in a freezing, filthy room attached to a garage in Hesperia. Most were alive though weak. Some had died from dehydration, including the 2 gila monsters. The owner of Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Phelan took possession of the surviving reptiles to care for them. Reptiles
February 4, 2008 San Diego, CA A 2-month-old baby elephant at the San Diego Zoo was euthanized after struggling since birth. The elephant calf was suffering from an antibiotic-resistant staph infection, which was also reported in three zoo employees. It was unclear whether the elephant or the zoo staff members were the first to present with the infection. Additionally, the baby elephant had suffered from the effects of malnourishment, unable to get enough milk from the mother elephant, or to transition well to drinking formula. Elephants
January 25, 2008 N. Fort Myers, FL A handler at the Shell Factory and Nature Park filed suit against the park in connection with serious injuries he suffered after being kicked by the park’s zebra, Ann Curry. Park owners expected the handler to harness and teach the zebra to walk on a lead. See also entry on 12/31/07. Other
January 25, 2008 Fort Worth, TX Babe, a 40-year-old Asian elephant, died while giving birth at the Fort Worth Zoo. Her calf also died during the birth process. It was believed that a torn uterus caused Babe’s death. Elephants
January 22, 2008 Muncie, IL A poisonous snake enthusiast who already spent 29 days in jail for violating state laws regarding endangered species faced new charges. Reptiles
January 21, 2008 Erie, PA Benny, a spider monkey seized in an Erie drug raid, died before he could be examined by a veterinarian. The monkey was being cared for by the local animal shelter. The State Attorney General’s office continued to investigate. Primates