January 2, 2007 Atlanta, GA A 17-year-old beluga whale was euthanized at the Georgia Aquarium after months of declining health. The whale had been in poor health since before his arrival at the aquarium in October 2005. Marine
December 31, 2006 Bartlette, TN A family which kept several kangaroos, wallabies, and other exotic “pets” in their backyard came under fire from a Bartlett City Judge who ordered them to either find new homes or relocate their rescue operation. The family relocated to a new residence and was attempting to place the wallabies with a USDA facility. Other
December 30, 2006 Tarpon Springs, FL A 14-ft-long python bit an 18 year-old handler during a daily snake show at Tarpon Springs Aquarium. Police had to use a stun gun to get the snake to release the woman. The handler suffered puncture wounds to her wrist. The aquarium owner canceled snake show indefinitely. Reptiles
December 25, 2006 French Settlement, FL An 8-year-old boy was attacked by a “pet” lemur at the home of a friend of his father’s. The lemur twice bit the young boy, who underwent a series of shots to prevent rabies. The “owners” of the lemur did not have a permit to have the animal and were cited. Primates
December 22, 2006 San Francisco, CA A 350-pound, 3-year-old Siberian tiger named Tatiana attacked and injured a trainer at the San Francisco Zoo shortly after a public feeding. Visitors were quickly evacuated after the incident, and the exhibit was closed pending an investigation of the attack. The woman was taken to a local hospital with concern that she might lose her arm as a result of her injuries. Big Cats
December 22, 2006 Washington, DC A worker discovers that a clouded leopard was missing from its enclosure at the National Zoo. The zoo was cordoned off and searched. The leopard was found sleeping near the enclosure, was anesthetized and returned to the enclosure. Big Cats
December 21, 2006 Lufkin, TX A rare Chinese alligator was reported missing from Ellen Trout Zoo. Zoo officials spent the majority of the day looking for the alligator, but were unsuccessful. Though only 3 feet in length, the alligator was reportedly “capable of causing great harm if it bites a person”. Other
December 2, 2006 Uhrichsville, OH A 5-year-old boy was bitten by Boo-Boo, a 6-year-old bear at Patterson Wildlife Ranch. The boy, grandson of the facility owner, lost a finger. The bear was quarantined pending Health Department inspection. Bears
December 1, 2006 Lucas County, OH A 130-lb wolf on the loose in the county was successfully tranquilized and recaptured by the County Dog Warden. Other
November 29, 2006 San Diegod, CA A trainer at SeaWorld San Diego, Ken Peters, was hospitalized with a broken foot after an orca named Kasatka grabbed him and twice held him underwater during a show. Marine