May 1, 2000 New Berlin, WI A 4-1/2-ft-long boa constrictor escaped from his “owner’s” car through a window. The car was parked in front of an elementary school. Reptiles
April 20, 2000 Yucca Valley, CA Two elephants with Culpepper and Merriweather Circus broke loose following a performance, one terrified residents as she stomped through the community, and another that stepped on a circus ticket-taker, and wandered down a local street before being captured by circus handlers. The ticket-taker suffered a possible broken hip. After the elephants were recaptured, three circus horses got loose and were returned by workers. Elephants
April 2, 2000 Metairie, LA A bear traveling with Sterling and Reid Bros. Circus toppled out of a circus trailer and onto Interstate 10, stalling traffic for three hours while wary motorists contained the animal and waited for help. Bears
April 1, 2000 Pittsburgh, PA Two black-tip sharks died after a salt mixture in their tank was contaminated with cyanide. A vendor had substituted the wrong chemical. Marine
March 27, 2000 Murphy, AR The former director of the Little Rock Zoo, David Westbrook, was bitten by his “pet” rattlesnake. Mr. Westbrook owns 48 snakes, 6 of which are venomous. Reptiles
March 27, 2000 Sand Creek, MI Honda, a 200-lb “pet” black bear, escaped from a barn where he was being kept. The “owner” purchased the bear two days before the incident. Bears
March 15, 2000 Anne Arundel County, MD A “pet” wolf-hybrid mauled a 6-year-old boy. The wolf-hybrid, Cheyenne, escaped from his cage and jumped over into the neighbor’s yard and attacked the boy. The boy required 80 stitches to his arm. Other
February 13, 2000 Channelview, TX A “pet” Bengal tiger tore off a 4-year-old boy’s arm. The boy’s arm was severed just above the elbow by the caged tiger who belonged to his uncle. The boy put his arm through an opening in the tiger’s chainlink-fence enclosed backyard of the boy’s uncle’s house. Big Cats
February 4, 2000 Tampa, FL Kenya, an elephant owned by the Ramos Family Circus and who killed a trainer on 1/23/00, was found dead at the Ramos family compound. Elephants
February 3, 2000 Deland, FL An inspector with the USDA found serious health problems with two elephants owned by Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus. 55-year old Bessie bleeds when she urinates and 46-year old Helen’s tail is partially paralyzed preventing her from cleanly defecating. Elephants