Search Exotic Incidents Database

A man found an 3-foot alligator in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The owner of Safari North Wildlife Park was called in to capture the alligator, which exhibited some aggression. The Sheriff’s Office believes the reptile was someone’s pet.

Eighteen cownose stingrays and three bamboo sharks died overnight at John Ball Zoo. A mechanical malfunction that left the Stingray Lagoon pool low on oxygen is the likely cause of death, according to zoo officials. A backup alarm that could have alerted zoo staff to the problem also failed to work.

Police officers captured 9-inch-long baby alligator in a residential area. He was then transported to a reptile rescue in Natural Bridge. Police believe he is an abandoned pet.

Fisherman spotted the two-and-a-half-foot-long alligator at Maple Lake Campground. An animal control officer reeled in the alligator, which was then turned over to state wildlife officials. They believe the gator was a pet that was dumped in the lake.

Leroy, a 19-year-old North American river otter, died at the zoo.

A bald eagle that was used in the Dodger Stadium pregame show escaped his handler and flew out of the park. He was recaptured outside the park and brought back to the LA Zoo.

A 30-year-old bald eagle named Buddy died of an infection after her talon went through her previously disabled wing. She had been receiving treatment for a week.

A 7-year-old orangutan named Kali escaped from her enclosure at the Kansas City Zoo. The zoo issued a ‘code red’ after going on lockdown when patrons saw Kali on the outdoor wall of the enclosure. She was located and returned to the exhibit within 30 minutes.

Police captured a foot-long caiman by the side of the road after it was spotted by a woman walking her dog. Animal Control captured the reptile and it was transported to a facility in Dracut specializing in reptile rehabilitation for evaluation and care. Police speculated that the reptile was a pet that someone abandoned when they could no longer care for it. Caimans are illegal to keep as pets in Massachusetts.

The police investigated a complaint against Mark Valdez alleging that he possessed more wolf hybrids than were originally grandfathered in for him when an exotic pet ordinance went into effect in 2015. They found a wolf hybrid pup, and he was given two citations for housing and breeding exotic animals.