May 17, 2003 RI A “pet” piranha attacked and bit a small child on the finger. The child was rushed to the hospital and expected to be fine. Other
May 16, 2003 Macon, GA A “pet” tortoise was found roaming a neighborhood. The reptile was subsequently recaptured and returned to her home. Reptiles
May 8, 2003 Cedar Rapids, IA A 300-lb black bear escaped from its cage and was later recaptured. Bears
May 8, 2003 IN A wild cat attacked a woman’s parked car. Police suspected that the wild cat escaped from a private home. Big Cats
May 7, 2003 Las Vegas, NV Wayne Newton’s “pet” wallaby escaped from her home and led police and Animal Control on a 2-mile chase before she was recaptured. Other
May 5, 2003 Cleveland, OH Rosey, an 18 year-old lion at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, was found dead in her cage by a night watchman. She had been attacked and killed by two other lions who entered her cage after a zoo worker left a gate open. The zoo worker was suspended for 5 days. Big Cats
May 4, 2003 Orlando, FL A 7-ft-long alligator at Gatorland bit a handler on the face during preparation for the park’s Gator Wrestling Show. The handler was in fair condition with a gash to the face. The handler had 4 years of experience handling large reptiles at the park. Reptiles
May 1, 2003 St. Louis, MO (May through July, 2003) Gentoo penguins regularly escaped by launching themselves over the Plexiglas barrier separating their man-made lagoon from a public walkway at the St. Louis Zoo. The yellow-footed penguins struck several visitors. Other
May 1, 2003 Darlington County, NC A man was attacked by his water buffalo. The water buffalo was shot and killed. Other