June 18, 2016 Oklahoma City, OK A 41-year-old silverback gorilla named Tatu was euthanized because of ongoing health problems. The zoo says Tatu’s health had been declining for several weeks. Last week, the Western lowland gorilla suddenly lost the ability to use his legs, and an MRI showed compression on his spinal cord, which was caused by severe arthritis. Primates
June 17, 2016 Rocklin, CA A 10-foot-long reticulated python named Banana Jam escaped his enclosure in a garage. He was found by the owner 3 days later. Reptiles
June 17, 2016 Omaha, NE $18,000 worth of snakes were stolen from Bart’s Exotic Pets store. 8 ball pythons were taken, including one valued at $5,000. The thief was arrested in Iowa, and the snakes were returned. Reptiles
June 16, 2016 Sioux Falls, SD An 18-inch boa constrictor was stolen from a home. Neither the thief nor the snake have been found. Reptiles
June 16, 2016 Tampa, FL A young, male orangutan escaped from his enclosure and was loose in the park for about an hour before being recaptured by zookeepers. Primates
June 16, 2016 Cave Junction, OR A white Bengal tiger named Scooby bit the arm of animal keeper Sara Romswinckel hard enough to break it. The keeper hadn’t noticed that the tiger’s den was unlocked. When the tiger then rubbed his face against the gate, it opened, prompting Romswinckel to push the gate in an effort to close it, exposing her arm. Both county and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have since inspected the facility. The county inspector reported that the tiger, if he escaped the den, could have hopped a 6-foot wooden fence. Big Cats
June 15, 2016 Washington, DC Francois, a 25-year-old sloth bear, was euthanized when zookeepers could no longer treat a severe, degenerative disc disease in his spine. Bears
June 14, 2016 Oshkosh, WI The shed skin of a boa constrictor was found, leading police to search for a possible escaped pet. Based on the size of the skin, officials estimated that the snake is probably more than 10 feet long. Reptiles
June 13, 2016 Portland, OR An African lion named Zawadi had to have the tip of his tail amputated after it got caught in a hydraulic door. Video of the incident can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/1Xnv8J5 Big Cats
June 13, 2016 Meridian Township, MI A 3-5 foot long ball python was spotted in a backyard by a landscaping crew. It is not native to the region, and is likely an escaped pet. The snake remains on the loose. Reptiles