October 15, 2015 Tucson, AZ A woman named Bonnie Poe gave her capuchin monkey, Latoya, to a woman named Gail Mehrhoff for treatment when the monkey became ill with valley fever. Mehrhoff refused to give Latoya back, sparking a custody battle of over a year that involved the sheriff’s department and the courts. During that time, both Poe and the police lost track of Latoya’s whereabouts. Primates
October 14, 2015 Memphis, TN A boa attacked a tortoise, biting its head and wrapping itself around the tortoise’s neck, in front of spectators when both were placed in an enclosure together at the Memphis Zoo. A zookeeper was able to unwrap the snake and put him in a separate enclosure. Reptiles
October 11, 2015 Royal Palm Beach, FL A man threw a live alligator through a Wendy’s drive-through window. He faces three charges related to the incident: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; unlawful sale, possession or transporting of an alligator; and petty theft. An officer responding to the incident captured the alligator, taped its jaws shut “for safety” and released it into a nearby canal. Reptiles
October 9, 2015 Albuquerque, NM Sarabi, a 19-year-old lion, died of a ruptured splenic tumor. She had been suffering from ongoing renal failure, and her health had been declining since the zoo’s other lion, Cosmo, died in August. Big Cats
October 8, 2015 Ocoee, FL A king cobra who had escaped his enclosure was found under the washing machine of a neighbor’s house after a month of being reported missing. The man who owns the cobra is facing charges for failure to immediately report the escape. Reptiles
October 8, 2015 Charlestown, IN Zookeepers failed to obtain veterinary care for a thin Fennec fox who was lethargic and reluctant to walk, had a dull coat, had scabby material sluffing off from inside his left ear, and had a green discharge from both eyes. Other
October 7, 2015 German Township, OH Law enforcement raided a property involving the seizure of four bears due to the owner not acquiring permits for exotic animals after the 2012 law came into effect in Ohio. Bears
October 5, 2015 Newport, KY A pet store owner was attacked by a 15-foot long, 100 pound python while cleaning its cage. The snake wrapped around the man’s body, neck and face and the man had stopped breathing. Police were able to get the snake off the man and revive him. The store owner is being hospitalized. Reptiles
October 5, 2015 Oklahoma City, OK A 4-year old baby elephant named Malee died unexpectedly at the Oklahoma City Zoo. The cause of death was a type of herpes infection particularly deadly to young elephants. Elephants
October 2, 2015 Greenville, NC Utilitiy workers discovered a 8 1/2 foot snake weighing 35-45 pounds when they accidentally killed it while clearing a sewer line. The snake is believed to be someone’s pet. Reptiles