July 3, 1997 Pompano Beach, FL A woman awoke in the middle of the night with a 5-1/2-ft-long rainbow boa constrictor across her shoulders and legs. Police captured the boa and took it home to a “foster” cage. It was presumed that the snake was a lost “pet.” Reptiles
June 28, 1997 Seagoville, TX A man who entered the animal area for Clyde Bros. Johnson Circus was attacked by an elephant and suffered a broken arm and dislocated shoulder. Elephants
June 7, 1997 Bridgton, ME A “pet” monkey bit and scratched a woman in a supermarket checkout line. This same monkey bit a child in 02/96. Primates
May 28, 1997 Scappoose, OR A “pet” leopard escaped its cage and attacked a neighbor. The neighbor was hospitalized with deep puncture wounds to her neck. Big Cats
May 27, 1997 Little Rock, AR Two gorillas at the Little Rock Zoo escaped from their cage during the night and remained loose in the room next to their outdoor area until they were discovered the next morning by zoo employees. One gorilla was darted and both were led back to their cage. Primates
May 8, 1997 Gainesville, TX An elephant at the Frank Buck Zoo crushed her handler to death when he entered the animal’s pen to move her to another pen. Elephants
May 7, 1997 Carrollton, PA A 400-lb tiger with Frazen Bros Circus killed his trainer by pouncing on him and dragging him around the ring by his neck in front of 200 kids. Big Cats
May 5, 1997 Lubbock, TX One of five “pet” Bengal tigers mauled its “owner” as he worked on its cage. The “owner” was hospitalized with bites on his throat, chest, and abdomen. The man’s son killed the tiger. Big Cats
May 1, 1997 Knox County, TN A “liger” (tiger/lion mix) mauled a 4-year-old boy at Joe Robinson’s Farm roadside zoo, when the boy got too close to the animal’s cage. The boy hospitalized with lacerations to his right leg and buttock. Big Cats