September 6, 1998 Gainesville, FL A 5-ft-long “pet” python bit a woman’s fingers as she attempted to pet him. The snake then knotted himself around the woman’s lower forearm and would not let go until firefighters discharged three blasts of carbon dioxide into the snake’s face. Reptiles
September 3, 1998 Cincinnati, OH A “pet” cougar was discovered roaming a neighborhood after he had been stolen from his enclosure. Big Cats
September 2, 1998 Richmond, VA A boa constrictor was found lying in the middle of the westbound travel lane of West Grace Street. Police officers were called to the scene and coaxed the snake into a Supercan closer. The “owner” of the snake was unknown, but the snake was believed to be somebody’s “pet.” The snake was taken to the SPCA to be cared for. Reptiles
August 29, 1998 Citrus Park, FL A black leopard attacked a volunteer worker attempting to pet the animal through a cage at Wildlife on Easy Street. The wounds to the worker’s arm required 451 stitches to close. Big Cats
August 16, 1998 Syracuse, NY An elephant with the Commerford Petting Zoo giving rides at New York State Fair panicked, injuring her trainer and a 3-year-old child who fell from the back of the animal. Elephants
August 10, 1998 Los Angeles, CA A gray kangaroo hopped out of her enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo for six minutes after the keeper left the gate open. The kangaroo was herded back into the cage. Other
August 5, 1998 West Covina, CA A “pet” chimp, Moe, went on a 3-hour rampage after escaping from his cage. Moe bit four people (two police officers, an Animal Control officer and another person). One of the police officers underwent surgery after an infection developed in his hand as a result of the bite. Primates
August 2, 1998 Los Angeles, CA Gracie, a chimpanzee at the Los Angeles Zoo, found a handhold in the sheer gray rock that surrounded her exhibit. She scaled the wall and got into a planted area, then jumped back into her enclosure after only five minutes. Primates
August 1, 1998 Woodbridge, MD A 16-year-old girl discovered a cobra on her back porch as she was letting the family dog out. The cobra slithered out from under a piece of furniture and hissed and struck at the girl, who escaped into her house. The girl’s mother phoned the police. However, the police failed to dispatch an officer or an animal warden to the scene. The girl’s father killed the cobra. The “owner” was unknown. Reptiles
July 31, 1998 Vallejo, CA A tiger mauled a woman tourist during a photo shoot at Marine World, seriously injuring her and scratching the trainer who came to her aid. Big Cats