January 8, 2005 Rockland, DE Several sightings were made of a cougar on the loose. It was suspected that there might be two cougars and that they were escaped or dumped “pets.” Big Cats
January 7, 2005 Eureka Springs, AR A man released his “pet” tiger near the town of Erbie along the Buffalo River. The tiger found his way back home, trekking some 60 miles of wilderness. The man subsequently relinquished the tiger to a wildlife sanctuary. Big Cats
February 2, 2004 San Diego, CA A poisonous snake bit a zookeeper’s hand while the handler was cleaning the reptile house at the San Diego Zoo. The reptile handler was taken to a nearby hospital. The Brazilian lancehead pit viper apparently did not release any venom. Reptiles
December 31, 2004 Billings, MT A worker for Animals of Montana (a company that rents out trained wildlife and exotics) sustained injuries when he was attacked by one of the resident mountain lions. The injury was originally reported as a scratch, however, doctors later noted that it was a scalp laceration that cut down to the worker’s skull and could have killed him had another worker not stepped in and sprayed the lion with bear spray. Big Cats
December 14, 2004 Los Angeles, CA Tara, an African elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo, died unexpectedly. Born in East Africa in 1965, Tara was brought to the Los Angeles Zoo in 1966. Necropsy was being performed to determine the cause of death. Elephants
December 7, 2004 Dunlap, IN A man and his dog were attacked by a wolf hybrid while walking in their neighborhood. The dog did not survive the attack. Other
December 5, 2004 Laredo, TX A Bengal tiger with the Great Circus of China bit and mangled a circus worker’s hand after the worker got too close to the tiger’s cage. The woman was rushed to the hospital and recovered. Big Cats
December 5, 2004 Eagle, WI A man was bitten by his cobra during a feeding session. The man received antivenin and survived. Reptiles
November 26, 2004 Evansville, IN A chimpanzee with the Hadi Shrine Circus bit a circus guest during a pre-show picture event with guests and animals. The guest was treated at the hospital for a puncture wound and released. Circus officials reported that the chimpanzee was unprovoked. Primates