May 18, 2000 Kiowa, CO A Bengal tiger at the Prairie Wind Animal Refuge tore the arm off a volunteer who stuck her arm in the animal’s cage to demonstrate that visitors can safely pet tigers at the refuge. The Refuge operated a photo safari program where some animals were released from their cages and allowed to roam with visitors. Big Cats
May 17, 2000 Keystone Point, FL A “pet” African serval escaped from his home and scared a neighboring family before he was recaptured and returned. Small Cats
May 16, 2000 Buffalo, NY A man was bitten on the hand by his poisonous Gabon viper and was rushed to the emergency room to receive antivenin. The man also possessed an 8-ft-long, 250-lb alligator and many other venomous snakes. Reptiles
May 4, 2000 Brewster, MA A Bengal tiger at the Bassett Wild Animal Farm attacked a teenage worker when the girl entered the cage’s feeding area, apparently unaware that the trap door was open. The girl was treated for puncture wounds to her leg. Big Cats
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