August 20, 1995 Madison, WI An 8-ft-long, 45-lb python attacked a university lab technician when he was holding the snake, Ganja, while her cage was cleaned. The snake clamped her fangs around the man’s nose. It took five people to control the snake and work its mouth off his nose. The 24-year-old man had helped care for the snake for more than three years. The snake’s “owner” removed her from the lab and found alternate housing for her. Reptiles
August 9, 1995 Prince William County, VA A man was bitten by his 8-ft-long “pet” forest cobra he kept in his bedroom. Reptiles
August 6, 1995 Phoenix, AZ A mountain lion at the Phoenix Zoo gashed a 5-year-old’s arm after he wandered too close to the animal’s cage and waved a stick at the animal. Big Cats
July 20, 1995 Atlanta, GA A 9-ft-long “pet” python escaped from its home after being placed in the possessor’s backyard. Ten days later a neighbor spotted the snake under her window. Reptiles
July 10, 1995 Queens, NY Two elephants with Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus became agitated and went on a rampage, triggering panic among spectators. Seven spectators were treated for minor injuries. Elephants
July 8, 1995 Prince William County, VA A 28-year-old man was bitten on his hands twice by his “pet” cobra. He was admitted to the hospital in critical condition and was on life-support equipment. Later his condition was upgraded to serious. The man had at least a dozen poisonous snakes, which he kept as “pets.” Reptiles
July 1, 1995 Amelia County, VA An 8-month-old infant contracted a Salmonella infection from the family’s “pet” boa constrictor. The infant had diarrhea and other symptoms. The state’s Division of Consolidated Laboratories discovered that the Salmonella organisms in the snake’s droppings were a rare subtype of the bacterium. This was the same rare subtype recovered from the infant. Reptiles
June 20, 1995 Islip, NY Jennifer and Clyde, two rhesus monkeys, escaped from their home. Clyde bit an Animal Control officer. The two monkeys were illegally owned in violation of a town ordinance. Primates
June 18, 1995 Denver, CO Customs officers and police officers seized a “pet” monkey after a neighbor reported the monkey might be infected with herpes B. The animal was to be tested for tuberculosis and various other viruses, including Herpes B. Primates
June 1, 1995 Downers Grove, IL A “pet” Asian jungle cat mauled a woman’s 2-year-old niece. The girl required 200 stitches. Small Cats