December 2, 2007 Owyhee County, ID An adult wolf who escaped from her pen on 10/29/07 was found injured. Efforts to try to capture the injured wolf were unsuccessful and the only option was to shoot her. Authorities were investigating whether the wolf had a tattoo and if the “owner” violated the requirement to promptly report her escape. Other
December 1, 2007 Springfield, MO A 16-month old elephant, Nisha, died early in the morning at the Dickerson Park Zoo, from the herpes virus — elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV). She first showed signs of illness two days prior, and was given anti-viral medication in an attempt to combat the virus. Elephants
December 1, 2007 Lewisville, TX An 18-month-old kangaroo that escaped his yard was eventually caught (by the tail!) by a police officer. The kangaroo’s possessor was a local veterinarian. Other
November 30, 2007 Piketon, OH A lion escaped from his possessor’s cage and was spotted along U.S. 23 by motorists on 11/19/07. The possessor was charged with failure to confine the animal. The Pike County Humane Agent who inspected the possessor’s property found a wood and wire cage where two lions were kept in very bad condition with caked manure and rotting animal carcasses. See also entry on 11/19/07. Big Cats
November 20, 2007 St. Louis, MO Zuri, a 1-year-old cheetah, escaped from her exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo. A visitor alerted a zoo worker that the cheetah was loose. The area was evacuated until the cheetah was captured, unharmed, around a half hour later, and returned to the exhibit. This was the third time since 2000 that a cheetah had escaped the zoo enclosure. Big Cats
November 19, 2007 Wakefield, OH Motorists along US 23 were surprised to see a lion chasing cars. Deputies reported that the lion’s possessor was on the scene and successfully recaptured Lambert, the lion, without injury to him or any person. The Sheriff’s office reported the incident to the USDA and was still investigating the lion’s escape. The lions were kept by Terry Brumfield, who kept 2 lions on his property. Pike County Humane Agent John Owens who inspected Brumfield’s property found the cage that the two lions were kept was caked with manure and littered with rotting carcasses. Big Cats
November 17, 2007 Fayette County, PA Pennsylvania Game Commission officials investigated a reported black bear attack on two people at the local zoo. One of the victims, a woman, suffered injuries requiring her to be life-flighted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. The man was treated and released at the Uniontown Hospital. Bears
November 15, 2007 New Hampton, IA A Chickasaw County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a tiger that escaped from her cage at a local farm. The farm’s possessors also had two cougars and a bear. The matter was turned over to the USDA for investigation. Big Cats
November 15, 2007 Glen St. Mary, FL Wildlife officers were investigating reports that a large, hairy primate (possibly an orangutan) was running loose in the woods. One officer spied the primate about 100 feet up a tree but declined to shoot a tranquilizer dart at it because the primate could suffer severe or fatal injuries from the fall. Primates
November 13, 2007 Inverness, FL FL Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials confiscated 5 tigers and a lion from a big-cat facility in Inverness, FL. Owner, Susan MacKay, has had numerious citations and violations in the past stemming back to 2005. The cats were sent to another private owner of cats who already owned 14 big cats and other exotic animals in his backyard that was only 2.5 acres. Big Cats