Search Exotic Incidents Database

Two 6-year-old Asiatic bears escaped from a pen at the Natural Bridge Zoo when a worker neglected to lock the gate properly. The male bear, Festus, broke into a neighboring house and was shot by the zoo’s owner and a sheriff’s deputy several times at close range. The female, Maggie, was found under a porch outside, where she swiped at the homeowner. She was shot by the zoo’s owner and disappeared into the woods, only to be shot and killed two days later by a hunter. USDA authorities investigated the zoo.

A woman jumped the fence at the Brookfield Zoo to reach into the gray wolf’s cage. The 11-year-old, 100-pound wolf was subsequently shot in the chest by a zoo police officer when the wolf refused to let go of the woman’s arm as she tried to pet him. The woman was treated at a nearby emergency room for bite wounds to her forearm.

Sabi, a 2-year-old, 90-pound female cheetah at Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, was on her daily walk through the park when she pounced and bit a 58-year-old woman who was holding her 2-year-old granddaughter on her lap. The woman was treated for bite wounds to her thigh and calf, the baby was checked for possible concussion. An animal trainer walking Sabi on a leash yanked her back and was bitten and scratched. Sabi was kept in isolation for 10 days after the incident.

A “pet” alligator escaped from a burlap sack and crate while en route from Miami to Newark.

Two men were hospitalized after being bitten by one of two rattlesnakes that were being illegally kept at their home.

A man was trapped inside his car by someone’s escaped “pet” emu.

Golden Strip residents reported in the previous few weeks at least eight sightings of what appeared to be a mountain lion. The animal was likely an escaped “pet” as wildlife officials disputes the possibility that it wass from wild stock.

Authorities found a “pet” python that escaped from his enclosure.

A “pet” python was found by authorities who were unable to identify its possessors.

For the previous three weeks, many local residents sighted what appeared to be an escaped “pet” orangutan.