Search Exotic Incidents Database

A tiger cub owned by exhibitor Sue Pearce was found injured with a swollen neck and bite marks. Pearce called the attending veterinarian and described the injuries, and the vet prescribed treatment over the phone without having examined the cub. The cub’s condition deteriorated, and she died the following day. Pearce was cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failing to provide adequate veterinary care.

A wallaby died of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection carried in cat feces. A large population of feral cats roams the zoo’s property. This is one of the 15 wallabies, including six babies, who died at the Virginia Zoo since they were brought there for the Australia exhibit.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Dept is attempting to locate a two walleroos on the loose after escaping their enclosure. At least one has been spotted hopping on the side of the road and video-taped by a motorist.

A tiger being used as a prop for a photo shoot escaped and refused to be corralled back into his cage. A wolf and a bobcat were also brought to the abandoned building. The owner of the animals did not have the resources to get the tiger back into its cage, so he asked locals to help corral the animal with the use of a tarp and leaf blower. The animal was eventually caught. Though the photographer did obtain permission to use the building for his photo shoot, he did failed to obtain permission to use the animals on site.

13 baby alligators were stolen from an alligator farm. The thieves are still on the loose.

Tyra, a serval, went missing from a home. Owner Jon Freed was afraid someone would mistake the 45-pound cat for a cheetah. She was found 4 days later in some brush not far from Freed’s house.

A Danville couple took their 5-foot pet boa constrictor named Leyla for a swim and the snake escaped.

A zookeeper at the OK City Zoo was stung by a cownose stingray at the Stingray Bay and taken to the hospital.

A pet marmoset bit a Target employee when she was brought into the store a woman. The monkey is under quarantine for rabies. While legal to possess a marmoset in Arkansas, the woman did not have the proper permits and claimed the animal was a service animal. No citations were given.

Cosmo, an 18-year-old lion, died. He had kidney dysfunction, and was diagnosed with lymphoma in June.