Search Exotic Incidents Database

Lufkin, TX – Two pet kangaroos named Hopper and Red escaped their enclosure and hopped onto nearby streets before their owners discovered they were missing. The owner had forgotten to latch the enclosure properly. Several people called 911 and reported the kangaroo sightings around town. Both kangaroos were recaptured and brought back to the residence by the police. The kangaroos belonged to a group of fifteen that the couple privately owns as pets. The couple purchased their first kangaroo at an exotic animal auction and have been breeding them ever since.

El Paso, TX – Prairie dogs will not be returning to the El Paso Zoo. A mystery solved at the zoo in November of last year revealed that two separate colonies of the animals were killed by a rare bacterial infection and tunnel collapse, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In November of 2023, the zoo fully excavated the prairie dog exhibit after a second colony of a dozen of the animals disappeared shortly after being introduced a few months earlier in August. With those efforts, they were able to find all but three of the animals dead. The surviving three were in poor condition, and one of them died shortly-after, according to the report. The remains of a colony of 14 prairie dogs that had disappeared in 2021, were also discovered. A report by the USDA in 2023, concluded that 14 animals were likely taken by predators.

The previous prairie dog exhibit will be redesigned and will likely feature native Chihuahuan-Desert birds.

New York City, NY – At least five peacocks and peahens escaped the Bronx Zoo in NYC. The birds walked through Morris Park. Several people called the NYPD, who helped round up the birds and return them to the grounds of the zoo. Police responded to reports of a peacock on the run between Vice Avenue and East 180th Street. A few good Samaritans spotted the bird and attempted to keep the bird safe off the street.

Police said the peacock bit a man and then fled the scene. The man was not seriously injured and refused medical attention.

Waterboro, SC – Colleton County Animal Services confirmed a monkey missing since last week from his habitat in Walterboro has been found. The monkey, named Bradley, a 15-year-old Japanese macaque, escaped from his habitat where he lived for almost six years on Thursday. After multiple sightings, Bradley’s owner notified animal services workers that attempts to capture were successful.

UPDATE: The monkey has since been discovered deceased in Walterboro on May 27, 2024. The cause of death remains unclear, though various news outlets reported that the macaque was shot by an area-homeowner in an effort to protect their dog from an attack. County officials have not confirmed that account. The search for Bradley drew in animal control, news crews, and citizens armed with bananas to use as bait and airsoft rifles.

Topeka, KS –  An ostrich named Karen has died at the Topeka Zoo after she grabbed a set of keys from a staff member and swallowed them, officials said Friday morning.

The circumstances surrounding Karen’s passing “serve as a solemn reminder of the importance of vigilance and care in maintaining the safety of our animal inhabitants,” Topeka Zoo officials said.

“In this instance, Karen reached beyond her exhibit fence to grab the keys of a staff member,” zoo officials said. “She immediately swallowed the keys.”

“Zoo staff consulted with experts across the country to undergo surgical and non-surgical efforts to minimize the impact of the keys. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful. The Topeka Zoo remains committed to ensuring the well-being of all our animals, implementing rigorous protocols to safeguard against such incidents in the future.”

Zoo officials said they will be investigating the incident and reviewing its protocols to further strengthen the safety measures in place for all of its animal residents.