November 28, 2016 Naples, FL Sumba, a visually impaired white-handed gibbon believed to be 30 years old, went missing. Zoo staff found her body three days later in the body of water that surrounds the primate exhibits. Primates
November 27, 2016 Apple Valley, MN Molniy, a 17-year-old Amur tiger, died. He was euthanized due to chronic health issues and his declining health overall. Big Cats
November 25, 2016 Washington, DC Bei Bei, a 19-month-old panda, underwent emergency bowel surgery to remove a “dense, lemon-sized mass of bamboo.” The procedure was successful and Bei Bei is recovering. Bears
November 22, 2016 Phoenix, AZ Half Ear, a 45-year-old southern white rhinoceros, died after suffering a “gradual decline” during the past few months. Other
November 22, 2016 Rankin County, MS A pet kangaroo named Boomer escaped when someone opened the gates to the yard where he was kept. Police found Boomer the next day and recaptured him. He had minor injuries. Other
November 21, 2016 Stony Ridge, OH A county judge ordered Ohio state officials to return six tigers, a bear, and three leopards to a roadside facility where they lived when they were seized nearly two years ago amid a crackdown on keeping exotic animals. The ruling said the Ohio Department of Agriculture unfairly denied a permit to the facility’s owner, Kenny Hetrick. The animals are currently living in sanctuaries in other states. BearsBig Cats
November 20, 2016 Chicago, IL An exotic bird was found wandering in a public park. He was captured by police and brought to an animal shelter. Other
November 19, 2016 Kansas City, MO A man found a 10-foot Burmese python in a neighborhood. Animal Control brought the snake to KC Pet Project. The python was very cold and underweight and experts said it must have been kept as a pet. Reptiles
November 17, 2016 Pahrump, NV Authorities seized 15 exotic animals from a home. The animals were found locked in bedrooms with urine and feces on the walls and carpet. The species were: two African lionesses, one African lion, one Bengal tiger, eight Canadian Siberian lynx hybrid cats, one black panther, one fennec fox, and one cervel caracal hybrid cat. Owning a fennec fox is a violation of the state’s law on exotic animal ownership. One of the homeowners was charged with a misdemeanor for animal cruelty. Big CatsSmall CatsOther
November 15, 2016 Wilmer, AL An administrative law judge with the United States Department of Agriculture ordered the Mobile Zoo to close due to repeated failures to provide animals with adequate veterinary care and housing in accordance with federal regulations. BearsBig CatsSmall CatsPrimatesReptiles