June 17, 2007 Bristol Twp., PA Two separate incidents involving large snakes were reported. Officials were trying to trap a 12-ft-long python or boa constrictor they suspect had been dining on kittens. In the other incident, officials recaptured a 9-1/2-ft-long albino python that escaped from her possessor’s car. Reptiles
June 17, 2007 Vacaville, CA State wildlife officials captured a 4-ft-long alligator from an area along the Sacramento River. The alligator was taken to an investigations lab in Rancho Cordova. Reptiles
June 15, 2007 Colorado Springs, CO Four zebras and three horses from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus escaped from their handlers when they were spooked by Interstate traffic noise. The animals ran onto a road next to the Interstate, eluding 15 animal handlers for about 30 minutes. They were subsequently recaptured unharmed. Other
June 15, 2007 Winston-Salem, SC A 5-year-old child received a minor injury at the New River Zoo when a coatimundi that had escaped her pen nipped the child on the knee. The animal was euthanized to test for rabies. Tests proved negative. Other
June 13, 2007 Atlanta, GA Norton, a 23-foot juvenile whale shark, was euthanized after he slowly spiraled to the bottom of his tank. His death marked the second time a whale shark died at the Atlanta Aquarium. Ralph died five months earlier. Marine
June 12, 2007 Waterbury, CT Vermont game wardens seized two primates from an Eden home and charged a man with illegally importing and possessing the animals. The primates were identified as a Rhesus Macaque and a Debrazza’s monkey. The two primates were to be transferred to a wild animal rescue organization in another state. Primates
June 8, 2007 Seattle, WA Hansa, a 6-year-old baby elephant at the Woodland Park Zoo, died in her sleep. Initial post-mortem testing was inconclusive. She had been experiencing colic-like symptoms during the week prior to her death, but a definitive cause of her symptoms had yet to be determined. Update 07/02/07: After a necropsy was performed, it was subsequently determined that Hansa died from a newly discovered herpes virus. Elephants
June 5, 2007 Fountaintown, IN A 6-ft-tall “pet” kangaroo that escaped from his possessor’s home in rural Indiana died just a few hours after his capture. Cause of death was under investigation but his possessor alleged he died of a tranquilizer overdose. Other
June 1, 2007 Woodstock, IL An Iowa man filed lawsuit against the Hawthorn Corporation circus training facility for medical bills and pain and suffering that resulted from his alleged mauling by a tiger in July 2005, just before a planned photo shoot with 14 animals. Big Cats
May 31, 2007 Bay County, MI Wallets, an escaped 4-l/2-ft-long “pet” alligator, was found by his possessor and returned to his home. Reptiles