March 13, 2003 Amherst, NY A kangaroo named Roo on the loose was observed near a golf course. Police were successful in capturing him. Other
March 13, 2003 20th Century Fox television set, A trained mountain lion bit actress Elisha Cuthbert on set of the television series 24. The trainer instructed Cuthbert to befriend the animal, but the lion sank his teeth into Cuthbert’s hand. Cuthbert was treated for puncture wounds and received a tetanus shot. Big Cats
March 13, 2003 Tampa, FL A shark at the Florida Aquarium bit a woman who put her hand into the shark tank. Less than 2 feet long, the shark was part of a petting tank exhibit, but was then removed from the petting tank. Marine
March 11, 2003 North Charleston, SC While being moved from Roark’s Reptile Safari (non-AZA) to spend the rest of year at the South Carolina Aquarium (AZA), a 22-foot-long, 250-pound female reticulated python broke free of her container and slithered into a transport van’s undercarriage, then made a break for a sewer grate. The python was recaptured by the aquarium curator and four fellow staffers. Reptiles
March 10, 2003 Hartford, CT A stray wallaby was recaptured and returned to his possessor after roaming a neighborhood. Other
March 8, 2003 San Diego, CA A sea lion escaped from his enclosure at Sea World in Mission Beach by climbing over a wall. He shimmied up several flights of stairs, crossed a boardwalk, and ended up on the front doorstep of an apartment complex. Residents called Sea World and handlers captured the sea lion with a net. Marine
March 6, 2003 Barlow, KY A truck carrying three elephants got into an accident and went into a ditch. The elephants were unloaded and let wander around the side of the highway until police and a tow truck arrived to pull out the elephants’ truck. The elephants were reloaded and continued on their way to Florida. Elephants
March 6, 2003 Annapolis, MD A woman was bitten on her thumb by her boyfriend’s venomous snake and rushed to the hospital. The boyfriend was charged with reckless endangerment and importing a venomous snake into the state. Reptiles
March 5, 2003 Pacific Grove, CA A 10-ft-long Burmese python was missing after she was let out of her cage by her possessor to sun herself. Reptiles
March 3, 2003 Pope County, IL A 7-ft-tall black bear escaped from his “owner” while being walked. The bear reappeared at his home one week later. Bears