Big Cat Incidents

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

Less than 400 of the estimated 5,000 to 7,000 captive tigers in the U.S. are held at facilities accredited by the

Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The remaining tigers and many other big cats are primarily at unaccredited

breeding facilities, poorly run roadside zoos, traveling zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, and private menageries where

the greatest risk of fatal attacks or injuries are likely to occur. Since 1990, more than 300 dangerous incidents

involving big cats have occurred in 44 states. Four children lost their lives and dozens of others lost limbs or

suffered other often traumatic injuries. Sixteen adults have been killed, and scores have been mauled. Many

captive tigers are kept in inhumane conditions, pose a threat to the community, create a burden for law

enforcement agencies and sanctuaries, and jeopardize conservation efforts. Following is a partial list of dangerous

incidents involving captive big cats, with some of the more notable items highlighted.

“Daddy, why did that

tiger bite my arm

off?”

4-year-old boy,

recovering in a hospital

after he was attacked

by his uncle’s pet tiger

in Texas

June 25, 2012/Pataskala, Ohio: While visiting a home with a private menagerie of

exotic animals to determine if it was safe for the woman’s twin 3-year-old nieces

to live there, a county caseworker was was bitten by a cougar kept in a makeshift

cage in the backyard, despite false assurances that the cougar had no teeth. When

the woman ran her hand along the outside of the caging, the cougar “grabbed

[her] left pinky finger and held on,” causing bleeding and sending her to the

hospital where she was told she needed to see a specialist.

1,2

May 28, 2012/Brooksville, Florida: A 275-pound pet cougar escaped from his cage

in a backyard menagerie and killed a neighbor’s dog who had wandered onto the

property.

May 16, 2012/Wynnewood, Oklahoma: In a CBS News piece covering an HSUS

undercover investigation of GW Exotic Animal Park, zoo owner Joe Schreibvogel

warned there would be a “small Waco” if anyone tried to remove some of his

more than 200 big cats. The investigation revealed children, who were sometimes

injured, being allowed to interact with dangerous wild animals. The reporter also

mentioned that GW is under investigation by the USDA for the deaths of 23 tiger

cubs between 2009-2010.

October 18, 2011/Zanesville, Ohio: Fifty animals escaped from Terry Thompson’s

farm when Thompson opened all the enclosures and fences and then killed

himself. The sheriff’s office warned residents to stay in their homes and

recommended that local schools close, and a sign on the Interstate cautioned

motorists to stay in their vehicles. Forty-eight animals were subsequently shot and

killed by sheriff’s deputies—two wolves, six black bears, two grizzly bears, 18

tigers, three cougars, and 17 African lions. A baboon was killed by the big cats and

a macaque monkey who was released and never found was believed to have been

killed and eaten by the big cats. Three leopards, a grizzly bear and two monkeys

were taken to the Columbus Zoo. Thompson had just been released from prison

after serving a one-year term for weapons offences.

5,6

WELFARE CONCERNS

Captive big cats require special

diets, exercise, and

opportunities to express

natural behaviors. Scientists

have found significantly higher

stress and frustration levels in

caged carnivores who, in the

wild, would roam vast

territories. Rampant and

careless breeding has resulted

in very large numbers of

unwanted tigers as well as

unhealthy tigers and other big

cats who suffer from shrunken

hearts, shortened tendons,

club feet, kidney ailments,

malformed backbones,

deformed faces, and contorted

necks.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

Since 1990

Incidents

306

States

Human Deaths

Human Injuries

244

Animal Deaths

125

October 16, 2011/Odessa, Texas: A 4-year-old boy was attacked and mauled by a

150-pound cougar who was kept as a pet by a relative. The child was standing near

the cougar’s cage when the animal reached out and grabbed him. The boy was

taken to hospital with significant damage to the left side of his body. The cougar

was seized by animal control officials and euthanized.

August 11, 2011/Halifax Township, Pennsylvania: An employee of the Lake Tobias

Wildlife Park was attacked by a 450-pound tiger after she stuck her arm inside a

fence containing tigers. She sustained a severe injury to her arm which required

reconstructive surgery.

July 17, 2011/Manchester, Iowa: The owner of the Cricket Hollow Zoo was

attacked by a 600-pound tiger who escaped from a cage when a gate was

mistakenly left open. The tiger ripped the meat from the bone of the man’s upper

arm and practically scalped him, leaving his left ear dangling. The man’s wife

chased the tiger back into the pen with a stick. The victim was flown to a hospital

where his scalp and ear were sewn back into place and his arm surgically

repaired.

November 19, 2010/San Antonio, Texas: A cougar escaped from the Wild Animal

Orphanage while cages were being moved. Law enforcement officers searched for

the animal for eight hours, during which time the cougar attacked and nearly killed

a puppy. Area schools were put on alert, and recess was canceled at the

elementary school. The cougar was ultimately tranquilized and recaptured.

October 22, 2010/Rock Springs, Wisconsin: A volunteer at Wisconsin Big Cat

Rescue and Education Center was severely bitten by an adult tiger who grabbed

the man’s arm and pulled it into the cage as the man was providing water to the

big cat. Other volunteers helped the victim extract his arm from the cage, and the

man was flown by helicopter to a hospital where he underwent surgery on his

hand and arm.

October 2, 2010/Idaville, Indiana: Two 900-to-1,000-pound tigers escaped from a

cage at a private menagerie called Great Cats of Indiana. The tigers pushed out the

corner post of a cage, which was held together with approximately 10 16-penny

nails. The tigers were reportedly acting aggressively and were shot by the facility’s

owner. One tiger was killed after being shot four times in the head and twice in the

body with a .223 rifle and twice in body with a 12-gauge shotgun. The other

sustained a wound to the abdomen from a 12-gauge shotgun. The tigers were

loose for at least 13 hours before they were shot.

September 5, 2010/Essex County, New Jersey: A leopard escaped from an

enclosure at the Turtle Back Zoo and hid behind a retaining wall in a zoo service

building. Visitors were moved to safe areas and the zoo was closed for

approximately 45 minutes while the leopard was sedated and recaptured.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

September 1, 2010/Las Vegas, Nevada: Numerous visitors looked on as an adult

male lion attacked a trainer at the MGM Grand lion habitat. The victim was treated

at a hospital and received stitches for a bite on the leg.

14,15

August 28, 2010/Miami, Florida: While chasing an escaped gibbon, a 500-pound

tiger jumped over a 14-foot-high fence and escaped from an enclosure at Jungle

Island. The tiger wandered freely around the zoo for approximately 20 minutes. At

one point he came within 10 feet of a 2-year-old toddler and stared face to face

with her. More than 100 park visitors were ushered into a dark barn for

protection. Four people were hurt during the chaos and were treated for minor

injuries. A fifth person was transported to a hospital after suffering a panic

attack.

16,17

April 23, 2010/Rockwell, North Carolina: A 100-pound tiger broke through plastic

glass while being loaded onto a trailer at Tiger World, an unaccredited zoo. For

several moments, the escaped tiger was on a leash but not under the control of a

handler. The tiger passed “just feet” directly in front of two families with young

children, all of whom ran and hid behind a cash-register area. The USDA later

ordered Tiger World to pay a $2,571 penalty for this incident.

18,19, 20

April 15, 2010/Beltrami County, Minnesota: Two 100-pound adolescent African

lions bumped open a gate and escaped from an enclosure at Paul Bunyan’s Animal

Land. The two lions were found wrestling with a dog in the front yard of a home in

a residential neighborhood approximately two blocks away.

April 2010/Brown County, Ohio: A cougar who had been purchased as a pet at a

flea market escaped and remained on the loose a month later.

February 19, 2010/Palm Beach County, Florida: A jaguar at the Panther Ridge

Conservation Center grabbed a woman’s hand and tore off her thumb when the

woman wrapped her fingers around a part of an enclosure. This was at least the

third dangerous incident at the facility in the past five years (see March 29,

2008/Wellington, Florida, and February 26, 2005/Wellington, Florida).

October 10, 2009/Cleveland, Ohio: An adult clouded leopard escaped from his

enclosure at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo when a wire in his cage broke. The

leopard was tranquilized and recaptured.

July 30, 2009/Las Vegas, Nevada: A 400-pound tiger belonging to the Fercos

Brothers magic act escaped while being walked on a leash outside of the owners’

gated property. The tiger ran after a rabbit, causing Tony Fercos to fall and drop

the leash. Police responded to reports from local residents about a tiger wandering

the streets, and the animal was found in a resident’s backyard. The owners

cornered the tiger and returned him to his cage.

25,26

WELFARE CONCERNS

December 25, 2007/Dallas,

Texas: A 1-year-old, 180-pound

tiger was found dead in a wooded

area off the interstate. The

female tiger was declawed and

wearing a make-shift leash. Shell

casings were found in her head

and chest - she had been shot five

times.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“Honest to God,

when is it going to

end? ... To these

animals, we’re food.”

Mother of a 7-year-old

Minnesota girl attacked

by a tiger

May 25, 2009/Lisbon, Ohio: A 10-year-old girl was bitten by a friend’s pet cougar

when she reached her arm into the cage. The girl was rushed to a local hospital

and then airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. A USDA inspector cited the

owner, Matt Joseph, for unsafe handling and warned, “[a]nyone could access

these animals when the owners are not at home.”

27,28

May 24, 2009/Great Bend, Kansas: A 150-pound cougar escaped an enclosure at

the Great Bend Zoo when a zookeeper left a door open. Zoo visitors were

evacuated and the cougar was shot and killed by police because tranquilizer darts

were not readily available and the animal became aggressive.

May 24, 2009/Memphis, Tennessee: A zookeeper at the Memphis Zoo was bitten

by an adult tiger who escaped into a corridor through unlocked doors. The keeper

was taken to a hospital for a bite to his leg. The tiger was sedated and returned to

her cage.

May 2, 2009/Osceola County, Florida: A pregnant cougar owned by Jungle

Adventure Park escaped as she was being moved from one cage to another and

ran into nearby woods. The state wildlife agency and county sheriff’s office

searched unsuccessfully for the cougar.

April 24, 2009/Calhan, Colorado: A volunteer was bitten on the arm by a tiger

while he was cleaning cages at Serenity Springs Wildlife Center. The man was

taken by ambulance to a hospital.

32,33

April 17, 2009/Jacksonville, Florida: A jaguar escaped from an enclosure at the

Jacksonville Zoo through a hole in the fence possibly caused by a grounds keeper.

The jaguar was netted and returned to the enclosure.

February 21, 2009/Oakley, Kansas: One of three lions kept in the private

menagerie of Jeffrey Harsh attacked a man who put his arm into the cage. Harsh

reportedly beat the lion with a steel pipe so she would release the man. The victim

sustained deep lacerations to both arms and was taken to a hospital in Denver for

surgery.

February 11, 2009/Omaha, Nebraska: A veterinarian at the Henry Doorly Zoo was

bitten by a tiger while performing a routine medical examination on the animal.

The 200-pound anesthetized tiger bit the veterinarian’s right forearm three times

and he was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

February 7, 2009/Troy, Alabama: A 2-year-old boy was clawed by a leopard at the

McClelland Critters zoo when the owner of the facility took visitors behind the

barrier that separates the animals from the public. The boy sustained lacerations

that required more than 100 stitches and the family filed a lawsuit against the

facility.

37,38

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“I can remember

seeing the sky. But I

don’t know if that’s

true or a dream. I

remember seeing a

huge blue expanse,

and I remember

seeing the clouds.”

North Carolina

teenager, 15 years after

he was blinded when

his father’s pet tiger bit

and crushed his skull

January 18, 2009/Thurmont, Maryland: An animal care worker at Catoctin Wildlife

Preserve and Zoo was critically injured by one, and possibly two, jaguars after she

failed to secure the animals’ inside area before working in it. Both jaguars entered

the area and the woman was attacked by the nearly 200-pound male jaguar and

possibly the female jaguar as well. A fire extinguisher was sprayed at the male

jaguar to fend him off. Emergency medical technicians responded to the incident

and the victim was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. She spent 10 days

in the hospital for injuries to her face and upper body. Both jaguars were placed in

quarantine for one month.

39,40

January 18, 2009/Ingram, Texas: A 330-pound pet tiger owned by Anke Leitner

escaped from her enclosure and was discovered in the residential backyard of a

79-year-old woman. The tiger was shot with a tranquilizer dart and recaptured.

January 8, 2009/Salem, Oregon: During a USDA inspection, exhibitor James Wise

was demonstrating to the inspector how he gave an adult male tiger a pill. When

Wise turned around, the tiger lunged at him, bit his forearm, and pushed him into

a fence. Wise hit the tiger on the face until he released his grip long enough for

Wise to escape the enclosure.

December 12, 2008/Las Vegas, Nevada: Numerous visitors looked on as a lion

attacked and bit a trainer on the leg during a feeding at the MGM Grand lion

habitat. Another trainer intervened by hitting the lion on the nose. The victim

sustained injuries requiring stitches.

December 9, 2008/Albion, Indiana: A 350- to 400-pound Bengal tiger escaped

from her enclosure at the Black Pine Animal Park when a keeper accidentally left a

door open. The tiger was seen running on a local firefighter’s farm. Park

employees, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, conservation officers, and local and

state police were called in and thermal imaging equipment was used to aid in the

search, which lasted nearly seven hours. Two tranquilizer darts had no effect on

the tiger who eventually returned to the park on her own and was coaxed into a

cage.

November 29, 2008/Pocahontas County, West Virginia: A 250- to 300-pound pet

Bengal tiger escaped from an exotic animal farm owned by David Cassell after

squeezing through a hole in chain-link cage fencing. Employees at a local ski resort

saw the animal’s footprints, county and state officials were notified, and the tiger

was tracked into the Monongahela National Forest where she was ultimately shot

and killed by Cassell.

45,46

November 16, 2008/Luray, Virginia: A 16-year-old employee at the Luray Zoo was

attacked by an adult tiger as she attempted to pet the animal while giving a tour to

a group of visitors. The tiger reportedly pulled the girl’s arm into the cage, causing

severe injuries to her left hand and arm and biting off her right pinkie finger. Luray

Zoo was fined $500 by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and cited

by the USDA for violating handling regulations as a result of the incident.

47,48, 49

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“My boy was not

mauled, he was being

eaten alive.”

Father who saw his 13-

year-old boy being

attacked by his

grandfather’s pet tiger

and lion in Texas

November 15, 2008/Dade County, Florida: A 16-year-old girl was mauled by a

150-pound cougar at the private menagerie of Alan Rigerman. The animal pinned

the girl to the ground and clenched his jaws around her head. A neighbor freed the

girl by punching and kicking at the cougar. The victim underwent extensive surgery

to repair a large gash in the back of her neck.

50,51

October 30, 2008/Atlanta, Georgia: One of two 1-year-old cheetahs who were

being transported in the cargo hold of a passenger plane from Wildlife Safari Park

in Winston, Oregon, to the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee escaped from her travel

crate. An airline baggage worker in Atlanta opened the plane’s cargo door and

found the cheetah running loose amid the luggage. The plane was moved into a

closed airport hangar, and both cheetahs were tranquilized and taken to the

Atlanta zoo for a few days before continuing their trip to Memphis.

October 29, 2008/Broken Arrow, Oklahoma: A volunteer was attacked by a 1,000-

pound liger (a cross between a lion and a tiger) while feeding the animal at Safari’s

Wildlife Sanctuary. The man suffered puncture wounds to his neck and upper back

as well as trauma to his vertebrae. He was flown by medical helicopter to a

hospital and died the next day from his injuries. A group of 40 elementary school

children was walking by the animal’s cage as the incident occurred.

53,54,55

September 2008/Mentone, Alabama: A cougar escaped from his cage at Lookout

Mountain Wild Animal Park and attacked a black leopard’s paw through the fence

of her enclosure. The cougar was shot and killed in order to get him to release his

hold on the leopard’s paw.

August 19, 2008/West Palm Beach, Florida: An adult lion and an adult tiger

escaped from their cage overnight at McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary. Three schools

in the area were on lockdown while officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office searched for

the animals, who were both located the next day, tranquilized, and returned to

cages.

57,58

August 19, 2008/Washoe County, Nevada: Two black leopards were found on the

roof of a private home after they apparently jumped a 12-foot fence while the

owners were out of town. Authorities tranquilized both leopards, and they were

taken to the local animal shelter.

August 5, 2008/Richmond, Illinois: During a rehearsal for a circus performance, a

tiger at the Hawthorn Corporation circus training facility attacked a man, knocking

him to the ground, face down, and grabbing him by the neck. The man sustained

deep puncture wounds and several scratches to his upper body, neck, and knee.

Others present during the attack hit the animal with wooden poles in order to get

him to release the victim. Paramedics transported the man to the hospital, where

he stayed for five or six days. It was the second time the man had been attacked by

a tiger at the facility.

60,61

big cat incidents

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“I have friends come

for dinner; they won’t

come back. If they

have kids, the kids

are terrified.”

Neighbor of a New

York man who

obtained a USDA

exhibitor license to

skirt state law that

prohibits keeping pet

tigers and other big

cats

August 4, 2008/Branson, Missouri: A 16-year-old worker at Predator World was

left a quadriplegic after he was attacked by three tigers when he went into the

enclosure to photograph the animals for a visitor. One of the tigers jumped on the

victim and knocked him to the ground before the two other animals joined the

attack and dragged him to a water pool. Staff members used a fire extinguisher to

deter the cats and pulled the teen from the cage. He was airlifted to the hospital

and listed in critical condition with severe trauma to his neck and airway as well as

a serious laceration to his leg. The family later filed a lawsuit against the animal

park.

62,63

August 3, 2008/Warren County, Missouri: A 26-year-old volunteer at the Wesa-A-

Geh-Ya exotic animal farm was attacked by an 800-pound tiger while cleaning

cages. The man was standing on top of a cage when a tiger scaled the 12- to 14-

foot chain-link fence and grabbed him. The victim’s leg had much of the skin

stripped off down to the bare bone, and he was flown by air ambulance to the

hospital, where he underwent two surgeries to amputate his lower leg. The facility

owners, who initially tried to cover up the incident by claiming that the victim had

been attacked by a pit bull, shot and wounded the tiger during the attack and then

later shot and killed him.

64,65

July 14, 2008/El Paso County, Colorado: El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies

searched for what was believed to be an African lion who was spotted running

loose by two witnesses, one of whom saw the animal chase several dogs through a

field. Authorities issued a reverse 911 call warning area residents of the loose

lion.

May 24, 2008/South Bend, Indiana: A keeper at the Potawatomi Zoo was attacked

by a leopard while cleaning an off-exhibit holding area. She was taken to a hospital

by ambulance to be treated for her injuries.

May 24, 2008/Royal Oak, Michigan: A keeper at the Detroit Zoo was bitten and

scratched by a lion while transferring the animals inside for the evening. He fended

the animal off with pepper spray and was treated at a nearby hospital, where he

received stitches for his injuries.

May 19, 2008/Neosho, Missouri: A black leopard approached a woman hanging

laundry in her yard and then clawed at the door to her home when she retreated

inside. The cat then charged a sheriff’s deputy who arrived on the scene, ran past

him, and turned around and charged again before being killed by several shots

from the deputy’s rifle and Glock handgun. Authorities speculated that the cat,

who had been declawed, was a pet who had escaped or been abandoned.

May 11, 2008/Toledo, Ohio: A keeper at the Toledo Zoo sustained three

lacerations to his chest after a 5-year-old tiger reached through a double mesh

barrier and clawed him. He was treated at a nearby hospital.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“[T]igers are 360–720

times more likely to

be involved in a fatal

attack than dogs.”

P.J. Nyhus, R.L.

Tilson, and J.L.

Tomlinson,

“Dangerous Animals in

Captivity: Ex Situ Tiger

Conflict and

Implications for Private

Ownership of Exotic

Animals,”

Zoo Biology

22:(2003) 573–586.

May 5, 2008/Miami, Florida: Mark McCarthy, owner of McCarthy’s Wildlife

Sanctuary, was bitten by an adult tiger during a photo shoot for a music video. The

tiger began to choke and panicked when a chain tightened around her neck and

body. McCarthy sustained bone-deep puncture wounds to his calf while

attempting to free the chain, which ultimately had to be cut to be removed. He

was treated by paramedics at the scene.

71,72

March 29, 2008/Wellington, Florida: The owner of Panther Ridge Conservation

Center was attacked by two cheetahs while conducting an exhibition inside the

animals’ cage during a fundraising event. She was pinned down by the cheetahs,

who then bit and clawed at her for 10 minutes before she could be removed from

the cage and airlifted to a hospital. She sustained 40 puncture wounds to her back,

arms, and legs

73,74

March 24, 2008/ Las Vegas, Nevada: A panther likely kept as a pet attacked a dog

in the back yard of a home in a residential area. Police attempted to shoot the

panther, but the animal escaped.

February 21, 2008/Honolulu, Hawaii: A 245-pound tiger escaped from his

enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo when a zookeeper failed to secure two gates in the

exhibit. During the 20 to 25 minutes that he was on the loose, the tiger walked

past a volunteer and into an open area of the zoo, where nothing but a 4-foot

fence separated him from the wider public areas of the zoo, including a

playground.

February 10, 2008/West Palm Beach, Florida: A Palm Beach Zoo employee was

bitten by a tiger during a training session. The worker was taken to a local hospital

for treatment.

77,78

February 9, 2008/Davenport, Florida: A volunteer was clawed by a tiger while

cleaning the animal’s cage at Horseshoe Creek Wildlife Foundation. The woman

suffered injuries when the tiger swiped at her leg.

January 20, 2008/Cedar Creek, Texas: A volunteer at the Capital of Texas Zoo was

bitten by a cougar when she reached into the pen to pet the animal. The cougar

gripped her arm and the girl sustained a broken thumb and bites that required

stitches. She was the second person to be bitten by this animal (see 2007/Cedar

Creek, Texas).

January 10, 2008/San Francisco, California: A 90-pound snow leopard nearly

escaped after he chewed or tore through a steel mesh wall that separated his

feeding cage from a zookeeper service area. The animal created a hole large

enough to get his leg and head through.

December 27, 2007/Manitowoc, Wisconsin: Two cougars escaped from the

Lincoln Park Zoo when the fencing of the cage was cut by vandals. The animals

were on the loose for approximately two hours before being located, tranquilized,

and returned to the cage.

big cat incidents

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“To have escaped

from their confines

and being loose in

the community was

just unimaginable.”

Detective for the

Bannock County

Sheriff’s Office in

Idaho, commenting on

the escape and killing

of 19 African lions at

Ligertown

December 25, 2007/San Francisco, California: A 300-pound tiger escaped from her

enclosure, which was surrounded by a moat 20 feet wide and a 12½-foot-high wall.

She attacked three visitors, quickly killing a teenager and following the other two

male victims―a teenager and an adult―for 300 yards before mauling them. The

two survivors sustained deep bites and claw cuts on their heads, necks, arms, and

hands, and both underwent surgery for their wounds. The tiger was shot and killed

by police. This was the same tiger who ripped the flesh off a zookeeper’s arm

approximately one year ago (see December 22, 2006/San Francisco, California).

December 3, 2007/Acton, California: A 4-year-old male tiger mauled a caretaker

who was cleaning his enclosure at the Shambala Preserve. The man sustained

multiple bite wounds and was airlifted to a hospital, where he was listed in critical

condition.

November 19, 2007/Saint Louis, Missouri: A portion of the Saint Louis Zoo was

evacuated when a 1-year-old cheetah scaled a wall at least 10 feet high and got

into an area intended to separate animals from people and was loose for nearly

half an hour. The incident marked the third time since 2000 that a cheetah has

escaped at this zoo.

November 19, 2007/Pike County, Ohio: One of two pet lions escaped from a cage

and onto a nearby highway, where he chased and attacked passing cars. The State

Highway Patrol and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call.

The owner ultimately lured the 550-pound lion back to the cage. A Pike County

Humane Agent inspected the property and found that the wood and wire cage

where two lions were kept was caked with manure and littered with rotting animal

carcasses.

86,87,88

November 14, 2007/New Hampton, Iowa: A pet tiger escaped from a cage by

rushing past the owner at feeding time and attacked and mauled the family’s dog.

When the dog ran toward cars from the local sheriff’s department and the tiger

followed, a deputy sheriff shot and killed the tiger through a partially opened

window of his vehicle.

October 1, 2007/Pahrump, Nevada: A cougar escaped from her holding pen at

Running Wild animal compound and attacked a volunteer who entered the

enclosure with a bucket of meat. The woman was knocked to the ground by the

cougar and bitten on the neck, back, hands, and arms. The cougar stopped the

attack when emergency sirens approached the facility.

July 14, 2007/San Antonio, Texas: A keeper who forgot to close a gate was

attacked by a 244-pound tiger at the San Antonio Zoo. The tiger knocked the man

down, dragged him, and bit him on the head several times before the keeper

managed to escape by spraying the animal with pepper spray. The keeper was

airlifted to the hospital with critical injuries to his head, neck, and arm.

91,92

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July 6, 2007/Marion County, Arkansas: A man was injured by one of his 5½-year-

old pet cougars as he was cleaning the animals’ cage. The male cougar knocked the

man to the ground and bit him on the back of the neck, head, and leg. He was

taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

May 2007/Chanceford Township, Pennsylvania: A 110-pound pet cougar escaped

from a cage and was on the loose for more than a day.

Saturday, February 24, 2007/Denver, Colorado: A keeper at the Denver Zoo was

attacked and bitten on the neck by a 140-pound jaguar in a service hallway

adjacent to the enclosure for the animals. The woman suffered extensive internal

injuries and died at the hospital of a broken neck. The jaguar was shot and killed

during the incident.

95,96, 97

January 21, 2007/San Angelo, Texas: A woman was given a tetanus shot at a

hospital emergency room after a 10-week-old African lion cub bit her right forearm

and would not let go until a worker repeatedly hit the cub in the face. The cub,

who was placed under quarantine, was being exhibited by GW Exotic Animal

Foundation at a mall where patrons were allowed to pet and interact with the

lion.

January 5, 2007/Center Point, Indiana: An 80-pound cougar scaled a 14-foot fence

and escaped from her enclosure at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center. More than two

months later, she was still on the loose.

99,100

2007/Cedar Creek, Texas: A volunteer at the Capital of Texas Zoo was bitten by a

cougar when she reached into the pen to pet the animal.

101

December 22, 2006/San Francisco, California: A keeper at the San Francisco Zoo

was attacked by a 350-pound tiger who reached through the bars of her cage and

grabbed the woman. The keeper sustained deep lacerations to her arms, which

required surgery and may have resulted in the loss of one arm. A zoogoer who

witnessed the attack described what she saw: “The right arm was in the tiger’s

mouth …. The left arm was just being held there (in the claws) and the right arm

was being eaten. She was screaming and flailing away.” The tiger released the

woman when other zookeepers jabbed the tiger in the head with a pole.

102,103, 104

December 22, 2006/Washington, D.C.: A clouded leopard at the National Zoo

escaped her cage through a hole in the fence and ventured onto zoo grounds.

Visitors were evacuated while zoo employees surrounded the cat with nets and

tranquilizer guns, sedated her, and returned her to her cage.

105

November 24, 2006/Evansville, Indiana: Animal trainer Wade Burck was clawed

by a tiger during a performance of the Hadi Shrine Circus. Burck received hospital

treatment, including stitches, for wounds to his left forearm and leg.

106,107

WELFARE CONCERNS

July 19, 2005/Colton, California:

John Weinhart, operator of Tiger

Rescue, a facility that charged a

fee for the public to have their

photos taken with tiger cubs, was

convicted of child endangerment

and animal cruelty and sentenced

to two years in jail and five years

of probation. Authorities raided

his home in 2003 and found 11

tiger and leopard cubs in the

attic, two tigers on the front

porch, 58 dead tiger cubs in a

freezer, and about 30 dead tigers

decomposing on the property.

Thirty-nine abused tigers were

seized and relocated to the

Performing Animal Welfare

Society sanctuary.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“Granny, I hate to

call you this time of

night, and don’t want

you to get scared, but

a tiger is loose.”

Texas man warning his

79-year-old mother-in-

law that an escaped pet

tiger was pacing along

her rear fenceline

barely 20 feet away

from her back window

November 18, 2006/Coral Gables, Florida: A 4-year-old girl was mauled by a 62-

pound cougar at a children’s birthday party. The cat took the child’s head into her

mouth, inflicting severe cuts to the girl’s eyelid, cheek, and ear, and requiring

surgical reattachment of part of her severed ear. The cougar had been provided by

Wild Animal World and was killed to be tested for rabies. The proprietor of Wild

Animal World had been cited at least twice previously for similar attacks.

108

November 14, 2006/Gulf Breeze, Florida: Two 150-pound cougars escaped

through a hole in the fence of their pen and were loose for nearly three hours at

The Zoo. The facility was closed and visitors were moved to secured areas while a

search, aided by an Escambia County helicopter using infrared cameras, Santa

Rosa deputies, and Midway firefighters, was conducted for the cougars. Both were

ultimately tranquilized and returned to the cage.

109

November 13, 2006/Gulf Breeze, Florida: A keeper at The Zoo was bitten by a

leopard and sustained wounds on her hand.

110

October 16, 2006/Fleetwood, North Carolina: A woman who attempted to pet a

leopard at the New River Zoo was bitten on the arm and wrist, sustaining injuries

that required surgery. The woman alleged that the owner of the zoo had

encouraged her to pet the animal. The leopard was euthanized.

111,112

October 16, 2006/Copley Township, Ohio: A veterinarian with the U.S.

Department of Agriculture was attacked by a tiger during an inspection at the L&L

Exotic Animal Farm. The tiger reached outside the cage, grabbed the woman’s

arm, pulled her toward the cage, and got her arm into her mouth. She was treated

at the hospital for scratches and bruising.

113

October 6, 2006/Hesperia, California: A 500-pound tiger escaped from a cage at

the Cinema Safari Zoo when zoo workers failed to lock the cage during cleaning.

Because the zoo did not have the proper equipment on hand to tranquilize a tiger,

the animal was on the loose for hours, during which time he attacked a donkey,

biting the animal’s neck and a leg. When the proper equipment was obtained, the

tiger was tranquilized and returned to the cage.

114

September 12, 2006/Balm, Florida: Lancelot Kollmann, owner of an animal

business called Sir Lance A Lot, was attacked by a 250-pound tiger while cleaning a

cage. His lower lip was split in two, requiring 25 stitches, and the side of one arm,

which was sliced down to the bone, required five stitches and a drainage

shunt.

115,116

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v.2012-09-11

“If somebody thinks

they’re going to walk

in here and take my

animals away, it’s

going to be a small

Waco.”

Owner of GW Exotics

in Oklahoma, a

roadside zoo with

approximately 200 big

cats, during an

interview with a

reporter

August 22, 2006/Tampa, Florida: Enshala, a 180-pound Sumatran tiger at the

Lowry Park Zoo, escaped her enclosure 15 minutes before closing time and was

loose for 50 minutes when an unlocked latch allowed her access to an empty

exhibit under renovation. Zoo visitors were moved to safety in the zoo’s

restaurants or sent home as a 10-person weapons team assembled. Enshala

became agitated when she was shot with a tranquilizer dart, causing her to lurch

at a zoo veterinarian as well as a 7-foot wall separating her from public areas. She

was shot by zoo president Lex Salisbury who fired four shots with a 12-guage

shotgun, killing her.

117

July 18, 2006/Ballston Spa, New York: A 4-year-old boy was clawed by an adult

tiger displayed by the Ashville Game Farm at the Saratoga County Fair. The child

was sitting next to a cage while having his photo taken with a baby kangaroo when

the tiger reached out and clawed him. The boy was treated at the hospital and

received 14 stitches for a 1-inch gash on his head. As a result of this incident, state

officials forced the facility to relocate its big cats. In 2008, Terry Thompson of

Zanesville, Ohio, picked up three tigers, two lions and two cougars from Ashville

Game Farm. These animals were likely among the nearly 50 animals shot and killed

by police in October 2011 after they were released by Thompson before he

committed suicide.

118,119,120

June 16, 2006/Kaufman County, Texas: A part-time employee at Zoo Dynamics, an

animal facility owned by Marcus Cook, was chased and mauled by a 300-pound

tiger who climbed out of an uncovered enclosure. The tiger grabbed the man and

threw him down, ripped off his ear, and left severe claw marks all over his body.

The man spent the weekend in intensive care and received some 2,000 stitches.

The employee in charge took the victim to the hospital without notifying local

authorities that a tiger was still loose on the premises and recaptured the animal

upon his return.

121,122,123

May 2006/Kingman, Arizona: A woman was attacked by two tigers at Jonathan

Kraft’s Keepers of the Wild animal sanctuary and required surgery for her

injuries.

124

April 6, 2006/Pine County, Minnesota: Cynthia Gamble, owner of Center for

Endangered Cats, was killed by an adult male tiger when she entered his cage. She

died of crushing injuries to her throat and blood loss. The 400-pound tiger, who

was about 100 pounds underweight, bit off her right foot and portions of both

arms. The tiger was euthanized.

125

February 24, 2006/San Antonio, Texas: A cheetah at the San Antonio Zoo escaped

from her enclosure by climbing over an approximately 10-foot-high fence into a

tree and then jumping to the ground. She was loose for 20 minutes before being

tranquilized and returned to her cage.

126

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v.2012-09-11

“I heard my little boy

saying, ‘Daddy.’”

Texas father who

watched helplessly as

his 3-year-old son was

dragged around like rag

doll and ultimately

killed by a tiger

February 15, 2006/Birmingham, Alabama: An employee at the Birmingham Zoo

was attacked by an adult lion while feeding the animals and moving them to the

outdoor exhibit. The woman was taken to the hospital with bites on her scalp,

right arm, and abdomen.

127

January 30, 2006/Fort Wayne, Indiana: A tiger escaped an enclosure at the Fort

Wayne Zoological Society when a keeper failed to close a gate separating the

enclosure from an aisle where the keeper was working. The keeper escaped to an

unoccupied area and the tiger was tranquilized and returned to the enclosure.

128

January 10, 2006/Center Hill, Florida: A cougar slipped through an unsecured door

and escaped from his enclosure at the Savage Kingdom breeding facility. As the

cougar headed for an open field, an employee attempted to lasso him and was

bitten on the lower leg. Other employees got ropes around the cougar’s neck and

the animal strangled to death as he struggled to resist the ropes.

129

November 16, 2005/Greenwich, New York: An adult tiger escaped from the

Ashville Game Farm and Exotic Zoo by pushing through a section of fence across

the top of her cage and jumping out. She was on the loose for approximately five

hours before being found in a resident’s yard several miles from the zoo,

tranquilized, and returned to her cage.

130,131

October 6, 2005/Duluth, Minnesota: Two zookeepers were bitten by a 400-pound

tiger at the Lake Superior Zoo while they were moving the animal back to his cage

following surgery. The anesthetized tiger bit down on one employee’s arm, holding

the bite for approximately 30 seconds and causing puncture wounds that required

the man to be hospitalized. A second zookeeper sustained cuts to his hands and

fingers as he helped other employees who used a broomstick and their hands to

pry the tiger’s mouth open.

132

September 28, 2005/Lewis County, Washington: A 5-year-old boy was tackled by

one of his grandfather’s pet tigers. The 80-pound tiger escaped through a gap in

the fence and scratched the boy’s leg and gave him a puncture wound on his

foot.

133

August 18, 2005/Mound Valley, Kansas: A 17-year-old girl was killed by a 300-

pound tiger while having her picture taken with the animal at the Lost Creek

Animal Sanctuary. During the photo session, the tiger, who was being held on a

chain, lunged at the girl. The handler was unable to restrain the animal, and the

tiger clamped his jaws on the girl’s neck. She was severely bitten and her neck was

broken. The tiger was killed.

134

July 8, 2005/Peoria, Illinois: A Frisco Bros. Petting Zoo employee was injured when

a 2-year-old tiger grabbed his hand with her front claws as he was removing a

feeding tray from the animal’s enclosure. The man was taken to the emergency

room and the tiger was quarantined by animal control for 30 days.

135

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v.2012-09-11

“You’d expect

anything besides a

lion coming in your

back door.”

Father of a 5-year-old

girl who was attacked

inside of their mobile

home by a neighbor’s

escaped pet lion in

South Carolina

July 2005/Richmond, Illinois: Craig Perry, of Perry’s Wilderness Ranch and Zoo,

was mauled by a tiger at the Hawthorn Corporation’s circus-training facility. One of

14 tigers circled Perry during a photo shoot and then attacked his left leg. Perry

required immediate surgery and suffered nerve damage. Perry filed a lawsuit

against Hawthorn and the tiger trainer seeking more than $50,000 for medical bills

and pain and suffering.

136

June 22, 2005/Little Falls, Minnesota: A 10-year-old boy was attacked by a lion

and a tiger while visiting a private collection of pet exotic cats kept at an auto

dealership owned by Chuck Mock. When Mock opened a cage to go inside, a tiger

pushed through the door and attacked the boy. As Mock pulled the tiger off, a lion

came out and bit the boy, dragging him 25 to 30 feet. The boy sustained numerous

facial fractures and his spinal cord was severed, leaving him a quadriplegic. The

lion and tiger were killed.

137,138

June 11, 2005/Underwood, Minnesota: A full grown African lion escaped from his

cage at the Arcangel Wildlife Farm and wandered through neighbors’ yards for

approximately two hours before being shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy.

139

June 11, 2005/Lima, Ohio: Bradley Craft was attacked by his 160-pound pet

cougar. Craft grabbed the cougar’s tail to prevent the cat from attacking his

mother and the cat turned on him, biting him in the leg.

140

April 27, 2005/Red Wing, Minnesota: A 37-year-old woman was mauled by four

tigers while cleaning their pen at Grant Oly’s Tiger Zone. She was airlifted to a

hospital with wounds to her leg and neck and was listed in serious condition. She

was hospitalized for several days and underwent rabies shots. The county seized

Oly’s seven tigers and hired a big cat expert to care for them at his property. Oly’s

tigers were later transported to a Colorado sanctuary, at a cost of $30,000 to the

county.

141,142,143,144

March 6, 2005/Underwood, Minnesota: A 16-year-old girl was petting a tiger

through the bars of a cage at the Arcangel Wildlife Farm when the tiger bit her

finger and clawed her hand. The wound required a dozen stitches and three

operations to treat an acute infection. The girl also underwent rabies shots.

145

February 26, 2005/Wellington, Florida: A 500-pound Bengal tiger escaped from a

cage at Panther Ridge Sanctuary by pushing past a woman who was feeding him

and who hadn’t latched the cage properly. More than 20 sheriff’s deputies and

state wildlife officers armed with rifles were positioned inside and outside the

perimeter fence of the facility as the tiger wandered the grounds for more than

two hours. Two tranquilizer darts were required to sedate the tiger so that he

could be recaptured.

146

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“The tigers managed

to get him by the

throat and neck area

and drag him into the

water.”

Missouri sheriff,

describing an attack by

three tigers on a

teenager who was left a

quadriplegic by the

incident

February 23, 2005/Simi Valley, California: A tiger who had been roaming loose for

at least eight days was shot and killed several hundred yards from soccer and

baseball fields at the edge of a housing development. Authorities with California

Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Department of Agriculture had been

looking for the animal, setting traps and using infrared equipment at night.

147,148

February 23, 2005/Pahrump, Nevada: A pet leopard at Karl Mitchell’s facility bit

off the tip of a woman’s finger.

149,150

February 12, 2005/Oldsmar, Florida: A woman was bitten on the hand by a tiger

cub provided by Zoo Dynamics for public photo sessions at an automobile

dealership.

151

February 11, 2005/Cut and Shoot, Texas: A worker at Wildlife Extravaganza was

hospitalized for several days after her arm was pulled through the feeding hole by

a leopard as she prepared to feed the cat. Two animal control officers were

stationed at the property around the clock to ensure there was no improper

contact while the leopard was placed under a 30-day quarantine.

152,153

January 26, 2005/Sioux Falls, South Dakota: A man was given rabies shots and

received stitches to his finger after claiming he was bitten by a tiger at the Great

Plains Zoo as he reached through a fence into the cage.

154

January 20, 2005/Baraboo, Wisconsin: An 8-year-old girl was bitten on the chest

by an 80-pound, 7-month-old lion cub at Creature Features Pet Store. The girl had

to undergo rabies shots. The lion was owned by Jeff Kozlowski.

155,156

December 24, 2004/Suffolk County, New York: An 8-year-old boy was attacked by

his father’s pet leopard. The boy was scratched on the chest and bitten on the

neck, and he required medical treatment. The boy’s father later pleaded guilty to

charges that included assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful imprisonment,

weapons charges and endangering the welfare of a child for forcing his children to

live with two wild felines.

157

December 5, 2004/Laredo, Texas: A circus worker was rushed to the hospital after

she was badly bitten on the hand by a caged tiger at Great Circus of China.

158

November 20, 2004/St. Augustine, Florida: A 350-pound tiger, displayed by The

Catty Shack Ranch at the St. Johns County Fair, attacked his handler and a 14-year-

old boy as he was being walked on a leash to a cage. The tiger jumped on the boy’s

back and knocked him to the ground and then turned on the handler. Police used

stun guns to stop the attack. The handler suffered puncture wounds to his head

and the boy was knocked down and scratched.

159

November 20, 2004/Branson West, Missouri: An 18-year-old volunteer at

Predator World spent the night in the hospital after being bitten on the arm by an

80-pound black leopard as he stood next to the cage.

160

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“The average U.S.

citizen has absolutely

no business owning

one of these animals,

absolutely none.

…They are putting

the public safety in

danger; they’re

putting themselves in

danger, and they are

confining these

animals that are not

meant to be

confined.”

Father of a 10-year-old

girl who was killed by

his ex-wife’s pet tiger in

Texas

November 6, 2004/Gentry, Arkansas: A visitor was taken to the hospital after a

tiger pulled the flesh off her finger at the Wild Wilderness Drive Thru Safari when

she placed her hand in the cage.

161

October 30, 2004/Salisbury, Maryland: A visitor to the Salisbury Zoo had part of

his finger torn off when he approached a jaguar’s cage.

162

September 9, 2004/Chicago, Illinois: A keeper at Lincoln Park Zoo was seriously

injured with multiple bite wounds and lacerations after being attacked by a lion in

the outdoor exhibit. The incident forced an evacuation of the zoo.

163

September 8, 2004/Trenton, Maine: An employee was seriously injured, with

wounds to his face and arm, by a leopard at the Acadia Zoological Park.

164

August 1, 2004/Grayslake, Illinois: A man was bitten by a 2-month-old lion cub

displayed by Perry’s Wilderness Ranch and Zoo at the Lake County Fair. The man

was having his photo taken with the cub, who he described as “feisty,” when the

cub climbed up to his shoulder and bit him, breaking the skin and leaving teeth

marks. The cub was quarantined for one month.

165

July 31, 2004/New York, New York: A 450-pound white tiger belonging to Adriatic

Animal Attractions bolted from the New Cole Bros. Circus while being transferred

from one cage to another near the Forest Park bandshell in Queens. Dozens of

police officers with machine guns and tranquilizer darts pursued the tiger for 30

minutes as he prowled for a mile through a park crowded with picnickers,

scattering screaming people and causing two traffic accidents. He was recaptured

by the trainer. Two women filed a $60 million lawsuit after suffering spinal

fractures and other injuries in the multicar pileup on the Jackie Robinson

Parkway.

166,167

July 26, 2004/Shepherdsville, Kentucky: A 2-year-old, declawed pet snow leopard

escaped from his cage, broke through a wire gate, and ran into thick woods behind

the owner’s house.

168

July 17, 2004/Detroit Lakes, Minnesota: A worker with the Arcangel Wildlife Farm

was bitten by a tiger who was on display at a local festival. The leashed tiger

lunged at the man and bit him on the arm when the man attempted to move

him.

169

July 14, 2004/Little Falls, Minnesota: A 22-year-old woman was bitten by an

African lion when she stuck her hand into a cage while visiting a private collection

of pet exotic cats kept at an auto dealership owned by Chuck Mock. The woman

suffered a severe laceration to her middle finger and cuts on two other fingers.

170

July 12, 2004/Loxahatchee, Florida: Deputy sheriffs and state game officials

launched an extensive search for a 600-pound pet tiger who jumped a 12-foot

fence and escaped from Steve Sipek’s private menagerie. Residents were escorted

to and from their homes while the tiger was on the loose. The tiger was shot and

killed the next day when he lunged at a wildlife officer.

171,172

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

June 2, 2004/Landover Hills, Maryland: A tiger belonging to exhibitor Mitchel

Kalmanson escaped from the UniverSoul Circus, which was performing in a

shopping mall parking lot, after fighting with another tiger and attacked an

elephant, biting her on the hip. During the escape, there were several elementary

schools attending the performance, and children were walking under the tent in

the area where the tiger escaped.

173,174

May 28, 2004/Chillicothe, Ohio: A woman was transported by helicopter to a

hospital after she was bitten on the arm by her father’s pet lion when she reached

into the cage to pet her. The lion would not let go of her arm, even after spraying

the lion with a garden hose. Her father shot and killed the lion.

175

April 16, 2004/Indio Hills, California: After a tiger used in the movie industry

escaped from his compound, the California Department of Fish and Game and the

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department launched a search. The tiger was later

captured.

176

March 13, 2004/Massena, New York: A 4-year-old girl was mauled by her

grandmother’s pet cougar. The 160-pound cougar apparently reached through the

cage and grabbed the girl. She was hospitalized with cuts and bruises on her head

and an eye injury.

177

March 11, 2004/Reno, Nevada: A volunteer needed more than 15 stitches after a

declawed leopard at the Sierra Safari Zoo bit her as she reached into the pen for a

food bowl.

178

February 12, 2004/Hardin County, Illinois: A 52-year-old man with a private

menagerie of exotic cats and wolves bled to death after he was mauled by a

declawed African lion as he changed the bedding in the lion’s cage. During the

autopsy, a coroner found that the man had suffered numerous puncture wounds

and a broken neck. The lion was discovered running loose on the property and was

shot and killed by police.

179

February 9, 2004/Plaquemine, Louisiana: A woman was attacked by a declawed

pet leopard she kept in a makeshift 10-foot by 10-foot cage behind her house

trailer. The leopard bit her on the head, nearly tearing off her ear and ripping the

flesh from her scalp. Sheriff deputies and one of the woman’s relatives shot the

leopard four times, killing him. The leopard had been acquired from a Georgia

breeder.

180

January 31, 2004/Fort Wayne, Indiana: A 4-year-old, 140-pound pet cougar

escaped from a car during a traffic accident and was shot and killed by police when

he lunged at an emergency worker. A month later, the man’s neighbors filed a

lawsuit seeking permanent removal of his “inherently extremely dangerous”

animals, which includes another cougar and three African wild cats.

181

WELFARE CONCERNS

January 18, 2005/Arkansas: A

400-pound pet tiger was

abandoned in the mountains of

north central Arkansas along the

Buffalo River. The tiger trekked 60

miles over the next four days,

returning to his owner’s home and

was then taken to a refuge.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“[H]alf of the lady’s

head [was] engulfed

in the leopard’s

mouth. It was just

ripping at her.”

Officer with a

Louisiana sheriff’s

office describing a

woman being attacked

by her pet leopard

January 24, 2004/Lowgap, North Carolina: A tiger attacked and bit a 14-year-old

girl on the cheek and neck as she was taking photos of four caged pet tigers. She

was hospitalized in guarded condition. All four tigers were killed on the site.

182

December 14, 2003/Millers Creek, North Carolina: A 10-year-old boy was killed by

his uncle’s 400-pound pet tiger as he shoveled snow near the tiger’s cage. The

tiger reached under the fence, dragged the boy into the cage, and inflicted at least

eight puncture wounds to his head, neck, and chest. The boy’s uncle shot and

killed the tiger.

183

December 9, 2003/Marion County, Kansas: A tiger was shot and killed after

escaping from Chris McDonald’s private menagerie and killing two dogs and a wolf.

The facility had recently been raided by officers who found evidence they were

operating a meth lab. Officers also discovered a number of animals were

malnourished and severely dehydrated. Days later, a sheriff killed a second tiger

when the animal became aggressive following the killing of his companion. In the

following weeks, the USDA confiscated 13 tigers, lions, and leopards.

184,185

November 11, 2003/Palm Desert, California: A zoo employee and a zoo visitor at

the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens were bitten by a cheetah who was being walked

on a leash through the park. The zoo visitor was holding a 2-year-old child on her

lap when the cheetah attacked her, biting her calf and thigh. The child was treated

for a head injury after she fell onto cement.

186,187

November 7, 2003/Rockwell, North Carolina: Steve Macaluso, owner of a private

menagerie called Charlotte Metro Zoo, was bitten on the neck by a leopard. Zoo

volunteers and employees reported that Macaluso needed dozens of stitches.

188

October 6, 2003/Golden Valley, Arizona: An employee at Keepers of the Wild Zoo

was bitten and dragged by a 450-pound tiger as she tried to pet him. She was

hospitalized for five days with four puncture wounds on her leg.

189

October 3, 2003/Las Vegas, Nevada: While walking a tiger across the stage on a

leash, Roy Horn of the Siegfried & Roy casino act was mauled and critically injured

by a tiger during a show. The tiger bit Horn on the right arm, then lunged at him,

bit him on the neck, and dragged him across the stage in front of more than 1,500

horrified tourists. Horn suffered bite wounds and massive blood loss. The 7-year-

old tiger had been performing in the show since he was 6 months old.

190,191

October 3, 2003/New York, New York: Police, along with animal control officers

and Bronx Zoo employees, confiscated a 500-pound pet tiger belonging to Antoine

Yates from a Harlem apartment. Yates was later arrested at a Philadelphia hospital

where he had fled for treatment of a deep bite wound to his right leg. At various

times, eight children had lived in the apartment where the tiger was kept.

192

August 21, 2003/Whetstone Township, Ohio: A chained 180-pound pet cougar

snapped his collar, escaped, and attacked a neighbor’s dog, causing more than 100

lacerations.

193

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“He was tore up. He

was a heck of a

mess.”

Father of Ohio teenager

who was hospitalized

following an attack by a

neighbor’s escaped pet

lion

August 12, 2003/St. Louis, Missouri: A cheetah at the St. Louis Zoo escaped from

an enclosure by going through a 12-foot wide moat and over a 12-foot high wall.

The animal walked among visitors before being recaptured.

194

July 3, 2003/La Crosse, Wisconsin: A tiger mauled circus trainer Bruno Blaszak in

front of 400 people during his show at a festival. The tiger charged at Blaszak,

knocked him down, and clawed him. His right leg required 30 to 40 stitches.

195

June 30, 2003/Calhan, Colorado: Two tigers severely mauled an employee of Big

Cats of Serenity Springs as he entered their cage. The employee was knocked

down by one tiger and suffered a mangled leg and scalp injuries. As a result, the

tigers were beaten with shovels and later killed.

196,197

June 23, 2003/Crossett, Arkansas: A firefighter visiting the Crossett Zoo suffered a

deep laceration and lost part of his thumb when he was bitten by a tiger.

198

June 14, 2003/Dodge City, Kansas: An adult tiger who was being exhibited by G.W.

Exotic Animal Foundation swiped at a young boy, tearing his pants. The tiger was

being used for photo ops with the public at the Village Square Mall.

199

June 2003/Mead, Washington: A Korean actor filed a negligence lawsuit against

Cat Tales Zoological Park, a roadside zoo and exotic animal training center, after

she was mauled by a white tiger during filming of a story about two of the facility’s

tigers. She suffered a cut on her forearm.

200

May 28, 2003/Nampa, Idaho: A toddler was jumped on by a 170-pound tiger at

For the Birds, a roadside zoo where visitors are allowed to pet tigers. Other zoo

visitors and employees have been jumped on and bitten by tigers.

201

April 6, 2003/San Antonio, Texas: A 350-pound lion from escaped from Wild

Animal Orphanage and roamed through a residential neighborhood for several

hours. An employee required hospital treatment for a fractured pelvic bone and

bruised rib when the lion charged and knocked her down as she attempted to

shoot the animal with a tranquilizer dart. The lion was tracked with a police

helicopter and shot and killed by four police officers armed with handguns and

shotguns.

202

April 2, 2003/Adair, Oklahoma: Several tigers belonging to the International

Wildlife Center of Texas and boarded at Safari Joe’s Rock Creek Exotic Animal Park

attacked and killed a volunteer handler. One of nine caged tigers grabbed and

pulled her arm into the cage as she was giving them water, and other tigers joined

in the attack. Another worker beat the tigers with a shovel to break up the attack.

The tiger severed her arm, causing a fatal loss of blood. The tigers were displayed

at fairs and used in photo ops with the public.

203,204, 205

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

March 31, 2003/Hennepin, Illinois: A man was mauled to death by two tigers he

kept in a backyard menagerie as he entered their pen to shift them to another

enclosure. Police shot and killed both tigers in order to retrieve the body. This was

the second incident at the Second Nature Exotic Cats Sanctuary (see May 26,

2002/Hennepin, Illinois).

206

March 23, 2003/Sacramento, California: A keeper at the Sacramento Zoo was

hospitalized and treated for puncture wounds to his neck, right shoulder, and left

leg, as well as a laceration on his nose, after he was attacked by a 325-pound tiger

while he was preparing to feed the animal. A zoo volunteer beat the tiger on the

head with a shovel to stop the attack.

207

March 22, 2003/Red Wing, Minnesota: A 5-month-old, 40-pound tiger cub at

Grant Oly’s Tiger Zone grabbed and bit a pregnant woman on the wrist, causing a

puncture wound, and bit a 16-year-old girl. Police searching Oly’s premises found

guns, ammunition, and marijuana. The tiger was euthanized for rabies

testing.

208,209

February 4, 2003/Jacksonville, Florida: A 450-pound tiger, belonging to exhibitor

Mitchel Kalmanson, escaped from the UniverSoul Circus while the cage was being

cleaned. The tiger climbed over a car, jumped over a fence, headed down an alley,

frightened employees at a nearby restaurant, and was recaptured 10 minutes

later.

210,211

January 24, 2003/Albert Lea, Minnesota: A malnourished tiger cub was seized

from a home in a residential neighborhood after school officials learned that

scratches and bite marks on a fifth-grade boy were caused by his father’s pet

tiger.

212

January 8, 2003/Laurens, South Carolina: A 200-pound pet cougar was recaptured

in a residential neighborhood after he had escaped from a pen 5 miles away and

roamed freely for three days.

213

December 2002/Malibu Hills, California: Television star Elisha Cuthbert was

treated at a hospital for a deep puncture wound to the hand after she was bitten

by a cougar while shooting a scene for the TV show 24.

214,215

November 30, 2002/Leesburg, Virginia: Animal control was called to help

recapture an 80-pound tiger who escaped from a petting zoo and was on top of a

car in a parking lot.

216

November 4, 2002/Red Wing, Minnesota: A teenager reported to authorities that

tigers at Grant Oly’s Tiger Zone had bitten him and two adults.

217

October 28, 2002/Las Vegas, Nevada: Neighbors became frightened and alerted

animal control when they spotted two tiger cubs running loose on a neighbor’s

rooftop. The cubs had escaped from the homeowner’s private menagerie.

218

WELFARE CONCERNS

January 8, 2005/Cleveland

County, North Carolina: Two 6-

month-old injured tiger cubs,

weighing approximately 80 to 100

pounds each, were abandoned

and found wandering on the side

of a road.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“We’re in fear of our

children’s safety.”

Neighbor of a Texas

man who had four pet

big cats escape in two

separate incidents

October 17, 2002/Southport, Florida: A 500-pound African lion pounced on,

dragged, and mauled his owner at a roadside zoo called 77 Zoological Park as the

owner stepped into the cage to pose for a photo with the animal. The lion ripped a

hole in his throat, pulled his right eye out of its socket, severed tendons in his neck

and chest, tore his skin, and bit through his flesh to the bone. The man nearly died

at the hospital where, after undergoing surgery, he spent weeks, including 11 days

in critical condition. He lost eighty percent of his eyesight and was expected to

need additional surgery to restore his vision.

219

October 11, 2002/Jackson, New Jersey: The 70-year-old husband of “tiger lady”

Joan Byron-Marasek was attacked by a 400-pound tiger at her controversial Tigers

Only Preservation Society (TOPS) as he was feeding the tigers. He suffered head

injuries, and his arm was nearly severed.

220

October 4, 2002/Leona, Texas: A man was severely mauled by a 400-pound tiger

at the Perrydise Exotic Animal Ranch when he stuck his arm in the feeding opening

of the cage to touch the animal, resulting in amputation of his arm just above the

elbow.

221

September 28, 2002/Bloomington, Illinois: A 400-pound tiger was shot and killed

by police after he escaped from a trailer at a truck stop and hid in bushes near a

residential area for nine hours. Local police spent $9,000 attempting to recapture

the tiger. This same tiger mauled a 7-year-old girl earlier in the year (see May 26,

2002, Hennepin, Illinois).

222,223,224

September 22, 2002/Quitman, Arkansas: Four 600- to 800-pound African lions,

believed to have escaped from a nearby exotic animal farm, were shot and killed

after running loose for several days, terrifying residents.

225

September 20, 2002/Scotts Valley, California: A declawed 150-pound tiger, who

was being walked on a leash by Zoo to You at an assembly with 150 children at the

Baymonte Christian School, suddenly lunged at a 6-year-old boy and grabbed the

child by the head with her jaws. The boy was wrestled away from the tiger by the

principal and airlifted to a medical center where he received 55 stitches for two

cuts to his scalp. A psychologist gave counseling to the terrified children who

witnessed the attack.

226

July 25, 2002/Tacoma, Washington: A 4-year-old male clouded leopard jumped on

and scratched both arms of a handler at the Point Defiance Zoo during a behind-

the-scenes tour at the zoo. A small group of children was nearby. The woman had

to call for help to get the 43-pound cat under control and her wounds were

treated at a hospital. The same animal had scratched another handler’s leg 18 days

previously (see July 7, 2002/Tacoma, Washington).

227

July 7, 2002/Tacoma, Washington: A clouded leopard scratched the legs of a

handler at the Point Defiance Zoo.

228

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“We’ve had two

buyers that backed

out. He said there’s

no way that I want to

bring my family in

here with somebody

that has what he has

next door.”

New York contractor

who has not been able

to sell homes valued at

$438,000 after

prospective buyers

learn a resident has a

backyard menagerie of

five big cats

July 2002/Nampa, Idaho: A tiger being used in an exhibition injured a 12-year-old

child’s finger at For the Birds.

229

June 30, 2002/Lexington County, South Carolina: A Lexington County woman was

fined $465 for allowing her two 1½-year-old female African lions to run loose for

45 minutes. The resident also had two cougars, two bobcats, and a serval.

230

June 17, 2002/Red Wing, Minnesota: A tiger at Grant Oly’s Tiger Zone bit a

teenager on the arm, causing a puncture wound that required stitches.

231

May 26, 2002/Hennepin, Illinois: A 7-year-old girl was bitten on the forearm and

wrist and clawed on her upper arm by a tiger at a private menagerie as she

attempted to pet the animal. The girl required 110 stitches and three months of

physical therapy. The tiger’s owner was convicted of endangering a child.

232

May 12, 2002/Tampa, Florida: A 350-pound African lion at Busch Gardens ripped

off the arm of a zookeeper standing next to the lion’s cage while she was giving a

private tour to her family. The attack occurred shortly after the zookeeper had fed

the lion pieces of meat during training exercises. Surgeons were not able to

reattach the woman’s arm. The zookeeper filed a lawsuit seeking in excess of

$15,000 in damages.

233,234,235

April 21, 2002/Easley, South Carolina: A pet tiger was quarantined for biting an 8-

year-old boy in the leg after the tiger had been given a bath. The boy sustained

four puncture wounds. The tiger is normally kept in a metal cage in the

backyard.

236

March 10, 2002/Red Wing, Minnesota: A tiger at Grant Oly’s Tiger Zone bit off a

portion of a 14-year-old boy’s finger.

237

March 9, 2002/Wynnewood, Oklahoma: A cougar suddenly bit Joe Schreibvogel,

director of the G.W. Exotic Animal Park, during feeding. The cougar reached out

from the cage, grabbed Schreibvogel’s sleeve, and began gnawing on his hand,

nearly severing his thumb and finger. The man received stitches on his wrist,

thumb, palm, and across the entire base of his index finger.

238

March 2, 2002/Strafford, Missouri: Two adult lions escaped from their cage at

Exotic Animal Paradise after an employee failed to secure the enclosure. One of

the lions was shot with three tranquilizer darts, failed to recover from the

sedation, and subsequently died.

239

February 15, 2002/Pahrump, Nevada: Animal exhibitor Karl Mitchell shot and

killed one of his tigers after the animal became frightened and escaped his control

while being moved to a new residence.

240

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“I heard a crunch. I

felt the left side of my

body go numb. I

thought he was going

to kill me. I never lost

consciousness. I wish

I had.”

North Carolina man

who was mauled by a

captive cougar

February 2, 2002/Loxahatchee, Florida: A woman was hospitalized in critical

condition with a laceration on one side of her head and a skull fracture after she

was attacked and bitten by a 750-pound declawed tiger at Steve Sipek’s private

animal compound. The attack happened when the woman entered the tiger’s cage

to paint in preparation for a photo shoot.

241

February 1, 2002/Tampa, Florida: A leashed 200-pound tiger lurched toward a

young boy during a Busch Gardens “animal encounter” during which animals are

taken into the park to interact with the public.

242

January 24, 2002/Gentry, Arkansas: Two animal handlers at Wild Wilderness Drive

Thru Safari were attacked while transferring cougars between cages. One handler

received multiple bites on an arm and leg, and the other was bitten in the face.

243

December 29, 2001/Leona, Texas: A 6-year-old boy was taken to the emergency

room after being attacked by a tiger at the Perrydise Exotic Animal Ranch. The

child sustained severe lacerations to his face and hand when a tiger reached

through the cage and clawed him as he was photographing the animal.

244

November 2, 2001/Pahrump, Nevada: A man was severely injured by a tiger while

visiting a private residence. The man was bitten on the arm when he was allowed

to feed the animals and required more than $160,000 in medical care, including

reconstructive surgery. A lawsuit was filed against tiger owner Annette Grabowski

and her companion, Paul Mason, for negligence and against Nye County for failure

to take action despite a previous biting incident.

245

October 10, 2001/Lee County, Texas: A 3-year-old boy was killed by one of three

of a relative’s pet tigers as he was about to have his picture taken with the

animals. The 250-pound tiger snatched the boy from the arms of an adult, clamped

down on his leg, and dragged him around the enclosure, causing head injuries. The

tiger was beaten on the head until he released the boy’s foot.

246

August 19, 2001/Tonganoxie, Kansas: A woman was hospitalized after she was

bitten by a neighbor’s caged lion. The woman had been feeding a bear when the

lion reached out of a cage, grabbed and pulled her arm into the cage, and bit her

upper arm.

247

July 31, 2001/Center Hill, Florida: A 500-pound tiger attacked and killed a man

who was making cage repairs at a breeding compound called Savage Kingdom. The

tiger pushed through a hole in the fence, tackled the man and grabbed him by the

throat, killing him in an instant. The tiger was shot and killed so that rescue crews

could get to the victim’s body. The man’s widow filed a lawsuit against Robert

Baudy, the facility’s owner.

248,249, 250

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

July 27, 2001/Racine, Minnesota: A 2-year-old, 400-pound white Siberian tiger

was destroyed for rabies tests after he bit a 7-year-old girl. The tiger had escaped

from a cage at a roadside zoo called B.E.A.R.C.A.T. Hollow and attacked the girl,

inflicting two puncture wounds that became infected. The tiger was stuffed and

mounted.

251,252

June 25, 2001/Nashville, Tennessee: The Nashville Zoo was evacuated after

officials found a cheetah wandering outside of a pen. After being loose for ten

hours, the cheetah was shot with a tranquilizer dart and recaptured.

253

April 29, 2001/Oskaloosa, Kansas: A Jefferson County sheriff’s lieutenant shot and

killed an escaped tiger as the tiger crouched in an attack position. The 600-pound

tiger ran loose for an hour after fleeing while being unloaded at a private

menagerie called Gatekeepers Wildlife Sanctuary. The animal had twice tried to

attack a veterinarian when he was shot with a tranquilizer dart.

254

April 27, 2001/Oakwood, Ohio: The sheriff’s office warned residents to keep their

children and companion animals indoors after receiving several reports from

residents that an escaped lion had been sighted.

255

April 7, 2001/Van Buren County, Arkansas: Three tigers kept as pets escaped from

cages after having been moved by court order from a Faulkner County subdivision.

The tigers roamed for three hours before being recaptured, and one died after

being tranquilized. After the escape, the sheriff of Van Buren County stated that he

did not want the tigers in his county either.

256

April 2001/Omaha, Nebraska: Animal handler Bryan Franzen required stitches

after he was clawed by a tiger during a performance at the Tangier Shrine

Circus.

257

March 25, 2001/Las Vegas, Nevada: A tiger with Safari Wildlife attacked and killed

his handler. The tiger put his paw on the man’s back, pushed him down, and bit his

throat. The handler died within minutes from loss of blood. The tiger was used for

photo ops with the public and had also appeared in numerous motion pictures and

advertisements. He was being groomed for a promotional advertisement when the

attack occurred. Another handler was hospitalized with injuries to his knees and

puncture wounds.

258

March 23, 2001/Morgan County, Missouri: An African lion escaped from his cage

at Wayne Oxford’s Ozark Nature Center while animals were being loaded for

transport. Terrified residents spent the next four days escorting children and

keeping companion animals indoors while dozens of police officers and

conservation agents searched for the animal. The lion was baited, trapped, and

recaptured. In a plea agreement, Oxford paid $5,000 in restitution, but taxpayers

were still required to pay $2,000 in veterinary care.

259,260, 261,262

WELFARE CONCERNS

November 8, 2003/Frisco, Texas:

A 4-month-old, 50-pound

declawed tiger cub was

abandoned and captured by police

after a motorist spotted the

animal roaming on the side of the

road.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“If this could happen

to my pet, then what

would happen if it

would be my

granddaughter?”

Florida woman after

her dog was killed by a

neighbor’s escaped pet

cougar

March 19, 2001/Olmsted Falls, Ohio: A worker spreading gravel in a tiger

enclosure at Burnette Farm was mauled and critically injured by a 500-pound tiger.

Owner Jim Burnette stopped the attack by hitting the tiger on the back of the head

with a shovel. The worker underwent surgery for bite wounds to his neck.

263

March 16, 2001/Witts Springs, Arkansas: A 400-pound tiger escaped from a

backyard menagerie by gnawing her way through the heavy steel enclosure. The

tiger was loose for three days, terrorizing residents and biting a dog, who was

subsequently treated for three large fang marks on each side of his neck.

Authorities from the Searcy County Sheriff’s Department, state police, the

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Buffalo

National River Park Service searched for the tiger, who continued to elude capture

after she was shot in the shoulder by an area resident. She was tranquilized and

recaptured after she was located in a thickly wooded area by a police

helicopter.

264,265

January 26, 2001/Las Vegas, Nevada: A pet cougar escaped from her pen and

hopped aboard a school bus. No children were on board at the time. The driver

fled from the bus, and animal control workers captured the animal.

266,267

December 19, 2000/Omaha, Nebraska: A 6-month-old cougar cub pounced at a

landlord who was checking on a rental home after the tenant was arrested for

armed robbery.

268

December 3, 2000/Morgan County, Missouri: Wayne Oxford, of Ozark Nature

Center, was charged with child endangerment after a cougar bolted from an

unlocked cage, killed a dog and six puppies, then ran into a house while a child was

inside. Witnesses locked the house’s front door, thinking no one was inside. The

boy inside the home ran into a bedroom and was later rescued through a

window.

269

October 21, 2000/Gambier, Ohio: While participating in a “close encounter” at the

Siberian Tiger Foundation, a 10-year-old boy was knocked to the ground and bitten

on the leg by a tiger. He received stitches to his left thigh at a hospital emergency

room. This was the tenth incident in seven months of people being bitten or

otherwise injured by tigers at the facility.

270,271

September 10, 2000/Albuquerque, New Mexico: A tiger cub bit a man on the arm

during a photo op at the New Mexico State Fair.

272

August 26, 2000/Delmont, South Dakota: A 14-year-old boy was flown to a

hospital after being mauled by a tiger on his father’s farm. The teenager was

hospitalized for months with bite wounds to the leg, neck, and shoulder and spent

a month in intensive care.

273,274

August 16, 2000/Sapulpa, Oklahoma: One of two 11-month-old tigers broke loose

and frightened nearby children while they were being moved between cages at

Safari Joe’s.

275

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

August 12, 2000/Boise, Idaho: A woman was mauled by a tiger at a fundraiser for

Zoo Boise after the cat escaped from an unlocked cage. She was hospitalized in

serious condition with a broken leg, puncture wounds, and a gunshot wound that

she received when police fired their guns to scare the tiger away.

276

July 2000/Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin: An employee at the Irvine Park Zoo in

Wisconsin was bitten by a cougar after she tried to pet him. The bite punctured

the skin and nicked the bone. The woman was hospitalized for three days.

277

June 6, 2000/Bloomington, Illinois: A man was treated for a 3-inch cut and

puncture wounds to his hand, inflicted by a snow leopard after he tried to pet the

animal at the Miller Park Zoo. A similar incident occurred at the same zoo in

September 1995 when a man suffered a 3½-inch gash to his hand when he

attempted to pet a leopard.

278

June 6, 2000/Harris County, Texas: Animal control officers spent three hours

searching for a pet tiger who had escaped from a backyard cage while the owners

were out of town. The tiger was tranquilized and recaptured.

279

May 21, 2000/Kiowa, Colorado: A tiger ripped off the arm of a volunteer at the

Prairie Wind Animal Refuge.

280

May 17, 2000/Brewster, Massachusetts: A 14-year-old girl suffered puncture

wounds to her leg during an attack by a 500-pound tiger at a roadside zoo called

Bassett Wild Animal Farm. She was rescued by two other workers and taken to the

hospital. The girl, a part-time employee at the zoo, was feeding the cat when he bit

her leg and shook her before releasing her.

281

March 15, 2000/Channelview, Texas: A 4-year-old boy had his arm torn off, mid-

bicep, by his uncle’s 400-pound pet tiger. Surgeons spent nine hours reattaching

the arm and within just five days the boy’s medical bills totaled $80,000. The boy’s

uncle, Larry Tidwell, was fined $500 for failing to have a permit for the tiger but

was allowed to keep the animal.

282,283

February 23, 2000/Great Bend, Kansas: A high school student was bitten on the

hand and arm after sticking her arm into a cougar’s cage at the Brit Spaugh Zoo.

284

2000/Jacksonville, Florida: An elderly woman was bitten on the arm by a tiger cub

belonging to Curtis LoGiudice, owner of the Catty Shack Ranch. In addition, a

trainer suffered 23 puncture wounds from a cougar, and another woman sued

LoGiudice after she was attacked by the same cougar.

285

December 2, 1999/Williamsville, Missouri: A 5-year-old boy required surgery after

he was mauled by a pet lion kept chained in a neighbor’s yard. The animal inflicted

puncture wounds to the boy’s throat and head. The lion was killed.

286

WELFARE CONCERNS

November 14, 2001/Detroit,

Michigan: A juvenile tiger who had

been beaten to death and dumped

in a field was found by local

residents.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“We’ve been

concerned for the

safety of people in

this community.”

Neighbor of a

Tennessee man with a

big cat menagerie after

a 4-year-old boy was

mauled by a liger

November 18, 1999/Sedgwick County, Kansas: Two adult lions escaped from a

pen at a private menagerie with 10 big cats belonging to Ken Alvarez, killing a dog

on the property. Several county deputies spent hours assisting a caretaker in

returning the lions to the cages. Neighbors complained that big cats had escaped

twice before and that the facility’s perimeter fence had fallen in several places.

287

October 30, 1999/Buffalo, New York: A keeper at the Buffalo Zoo was pounced

on, bitten, and clawed by a clouded leopard when she entered the 10-foot square

cage for cleaning. The incident happened in front of about 30 visitors. She was

treated at a hospital for leg wounds.

288

October 20, 1999/Evansville, Indiana: A zookeeper at the Mesker Park Zoo was

mauled by a lion who severely injured his leg and arm.

289

June 26, 1999/Sterling, Kansas: A woman with a group of Boy Scouts visiting Safari

Zoological Park was attacked by a caged tiger when she put her hand on the cage.

The zoo owner beat the tiger on the head and tried unsuccessfully to pry the

animal’s mouth off the woman’s arm. The tiger abruptly let go, leaving the victim

with a dislocated shoulder, a broken right hand, a puncture wound, torn biceps,

severe cuts and other damage to the muscles in her arm.

290

June 6, 1999/Yorktown, Texas: A 10-year-old girl was killed when one of her

stepfather’s two pet tigers grabbed her by the neck and dragged her into a water

trough. The girl’s stepfather was sentenced to 10 years probation, fined $5,000,

and ordered to serve 800 hours of community service for recklessly causing serious

bodily injury to a child.

291,292

March 31, 1999/Tyler, Texas: A woman’s arm was nearly severed by a tiger at

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge. A volunteer at the facility, she reached in to pet the

tiger, when he attacked. Doctors were unsure whether they would be able to save

her arm.

293

March 16, 1999/Colorado Springs, Colorado: A 6-year-old boy was severely

injured by a leopard at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo after he climbed over a rope

to get a closer look at the animal. The leopard grabbed the boy in her mouth and

clutched him with her paws through the fencing of her enclosure. Three months

earlier, a woman was scratched by a tiger at the zoo after sticking her hand into a

cage.

294

February 27, 1999/Fort Wayne, Indiana: A tiger mauled an employee of the Fort

Wayne Children’s Zoo while she was cleaning the cage, causing injuries to her

chest, neck and back.

295

January 27, 1999/Jackson Township, New Jersey: Police shot and killed a 431-

pound tiger who escaped from the Tigers Only Preservation Society and was found

11 miles away, wandering through a residential subdivision.

296

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

Big cats are readily

available to unqualified

people

January 7, 1999/Wichita, Kansas: A 75-pound tiger cub attacked a 5-year-old child

at a private residence, causing a throat wound that required 20 stitches. The tiger

belonged to Safari Zoological Park, a roadside zoo that hauls animals around to

schools, festivals, store promotions, and private events. The tiger was killed the

next day. The incident was the third time in less than a year that an animal from

the park had been investigated for attacking someone.

297

1999/Jacksonville, Florida: A cougar from Curt LoGiudice’s Catty Shack Ranch bit a

19-month-old child.

298

November 21, 1998/Chicago, Illinois: A Ringling Bros. circus employee was

seriously mauled by a tiger used in the circus when three tigers escaped from their

cage in a Chicago parking lot. The tiger clawed the handler on his neck and side.

This was the second attack by tigers used by Ringling in one year. (see January 7,

1998/St. Petersburg, Florida).

299

November 18, 1998/Kaufman, Texas: A Texas man was attacked by his pet lion

and suffered serious injuries. The female lion jumped him from behind.

300

November 15, 1998/Chatham County, North Carolina: A cougar mauled a

volunteer with Carnivore Preservation Trust causing numerous bites and deep

scratches.

301

November 13, 1998/Newberry, Florida: The same tiger who killed his trainer on

October 8, 1998, attacked and killed his owner. The woman was leading the tiger

to a pen when he lunged and bit her neck, killing her instantly. Authorities shot

and killed the tiger.

302

November 8, 1998/Cut and Shoot, Texas: Two pet tigers escaped their backyard

cage and attacked a dog and a pig before being shot dead by police after charging

pursuers. Security officers were posted at a local school while one tiger eluded

searchers for more than 30 hours. In 1997, a pet cougar kept by the same man

escaped and was never re-captured.

303,304, 305

October 8, 1998/Newberry, Florida: A nearly 400-pound tiger who was being

moved between pens attacked and killed his trainer at the Holiday’s Cat Dancer

facility. The tiger had been used in the operation’s traveling animal show and

featured in circuses, fairs, and other public venues. The tiger grabbed the trainer

by the throat.

306

September 2, 1998/Tampa, Florida: A volunteer at Wildlife on Easy Street needed

451 stitches after a leopard pulled her hand through the bars of a cage and latched

onto her arm with his teeth, removing skin from her elbow to her wrist.

307

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“Yes, I’m scared. I’m

still shaking.”

Texas deputy after

being forced to shoot

and kill an escaped

African lion who

charged a group of

people in a residential

neighborhood

August 22, 1998/Myakka City, Florida: A 520-pound tiger bit the hand of a 14-

year-old volunteer with Tiger Claw Productions. The bite stripped flesh and

tendons from her hand and required two surgeries to repair as well as long hours

of physical therapy. Following the attack, the girl was treated with anti-

depressants and visited a psychotherapist three times a week to deal with the

trauma. Due to mounting medical bills, the family’s truck was repossessed.

308,309

July 31, 1998/Vallejo, California: A woman getting her photo taken at Marine

World with a Bengal tiger was mauled and hospitalized with multiple cuts to her

neck and throat. A trainer trying to separate them was also injured.

310

July 30, 1998/Minot, North Dakota: A 5-year-old boy suffered facial cuts requiring

plastic surgery after being attacked by a 4-month-old tiger cub at a Bridgeport

Nature Center photo booth at the state fair.

311

May 2, 1998/Wylie, Texas: A pet cougar bit a 4-year-old boy on the leg. The boy

required $5,800 in medical care.

312

April 7, 1998/Charlotte, North Carolina: Two lions at the Charlotte Metro Zoo

attacked a keeper, one biting him on the leg while the other took the man’s head

in his mouth. The keeper suffered deep puncture wounds to his head and leg. He

had to be airlifted to a trauma center.

313

April 1, 1998/Arkansas: A 300-pound tiger attacked a worker at a breeding

compound, inflicting deep gashes into his neck and right arm.

314

Spring 1998/Wichita, Kansas: A tiger from Safari Zoological Park scratched or bit

an adult while the animal was appearing at a store’s promotional event.

315

February 10, 1998/Lincolnton, North Carolina: A 150-pound leopard nearly killed

his trainer after attacking her at a Royal Palace Circus performance in North

Carolina. The trainer suffered injuries requiring reconstructive surgery and

hospitalization for a week.

316

January 7, 1998/St. Petersburg, Florida: A trainer with the Ringling Bros. and

Barnum & Bailey Circus suffered severe head wounds after a tiger grabbed him by

the head during a training session in preparation for a publicity shoot. Richard

Chipperfield was hospitalized in critical condition and required extensive surgery.

The trainer’s brother shot the tiger five times with a 12-gauge shot gun after the

animal had been returned to a transport cage, killing him.

317

1998/Harris County, Texas: A 4-year-old girl was mauled by a Bridgeport Nature

Center tiger during photo ops at a county fair. The girl required stitches and

$17,000 in plastic surgery to her leg. The girl’s family filed a lawsuit against

Bridgeport.

318

October 22, 1997/Calabasas, California: The same jaguar who attacked a trainer

on October 16, 1997, attacked another trainer who suffered bite wounds on his leg

and a cut to his hand on a movie set.

319

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

October 16, 1997/Calabasas, California: A trainer on a movie set in California was

airlifted to a hospital where she underwent surgery to repair a broken ankle after

being attacked by a jaguar. She was expected to remain hospitalized for several

days.

320,321

August 17, 1997/Marshfield, Massachusetts: A 13-year-old girl was rushed to the

emergency room after being bitten on the hand by a Bridgeport Nature Center

tiger during a photo session in Massachusetts. The exhibitor left the state before

authorities could quarantine the tiger. The girl had to undergo painful rabies

treatment. The Marshfield Mass. Animal Control Department reported “several”

other bites associated with this photo booth.

322

June 7, 1997/Scappoose, Oregon: A woman suffered deep puncture wounds to

the neck and post-traumatic stress disorder when she was attacked by a

neighbor’s pet leopard. The woman filed a lawsuit against the leopard’s owner

after her medical bills went unpaid, despite assurances that his insurance would

cover it.

323

May 8, 1997/Lubbock, Texas: One of five pet tigers mauled his owner. The man

was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. The owner’s son killed the

tiger.

324

May 7, 1997/Carrollton, Pennsylvania: A 400-pound tiger used in the Franzen

Bros. Circus killed 50-year-old Wayne Franzen in front of 200 horrified

schoolchildren. The tiger pounced on him when he turned his back, grabbed him

by the neck, and dragged him around the circus ring.

325

May 4, 1997/Knox County, Tennessee: A liger (tiger-lion hybrid) reached under a

fence of his 8-foot by 12-foot cage, grabbed a 4-year-old boy with his claw, and

pulled him toward the cage at Joe Robinson’s roadside menagerie. Emergency

personnel took the boy to a medical center for treatment of lacerations to his leg

and buttock.

326

April 29, 1997/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: A leopard escaped from his cage and

killed a woman who was visiting her son at the Oakhill Center for Rare and

Endangered Species. Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed the leopard seven hours

later when he was found along a road after dark.

327

April 27, 1997/San Antonio, Texas: A man reportedly lost his finger and his friend

was injured when they broke into Wild Animal Orphanage and tried to pet a

tiger.

328

March 19, 1997/Orlando, Florida: A tiger escaped from a cage and mauled a

keeper when a safety gate was left open at Savage Kingdom, the breeding

compound owned by Robert Baudy. The keeper suffered a broken thigh, crushed

knee, and severed arteries and veins in his leg. Authorities shot and killed the tiger

when the animal made its way into an enclosure surrounded by a fence that was

low enough for the animal to jump.

329

WELFARE CONCERNS

June 5, 2000/Greenfield,

Wisconsin: Police seized a

leopard, a cougar, and dozens of

other exotic mammals and

reptiles from the apartment of a

22-year-old man. The animals

were living in cramped and poorly

ventilated conditions.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“One of the trainers

… just started

punching the tiger in

the forehead to get

him to let go of the

boy’s leg. That didn’t

seem to work.”

Witness describing a

tiger attacking a 10-

year-old Ohio boy

March 18, 1997/San Antonio, Texas: A 300-pound tiger climbed a 10-foot fence

and escaped from Wild Animal Orphanage, killing a duck and an ostrich, wounding

a llama, and pawing a sheriff’s deputy before being tranquilized and

recaptured.

330,331

March 12, 1997/Caldwell, Texas: A 13-year-old boy was hospitalized for a week

after he was attacked by a pet tiger and a lion kept in a cage built into the side of

his grandfather’s house. The boy’s father said, “My boy was not mauled, he was

being eaten alive.”

332

1997/Kirbyville, Texas: A tiger bit two fingers off the left hand of Monique

Woodard, owner of the Exotic Cat Refuge and Wildlife Orphanage. Doctors were

able to reattach one of the fingers.

333

December 21, 1996/Brooklyn Park, Minnesota: Three pet-supply store workers

were bitten or scratched by a 7-month-old tiger who had been brought to the

store to have his picture taken. The three workers agreed to receive rabies

shots.

334

October 8, 1996/Las Vegas, Nevada: A Las Vegas animal trainer had to undergo

surgery on his feet and legs after being mauled by a tiger at Keepers of the Wild.

335

September 16, 1996/Crystal Beach, Texas: A declawed pet lioness died after she

was shot and tranquilized by a deputy. The lioness attacked a man after a burglar

had apparently set her free.

336

July 18, 1996/Middletown, New York: A white tiger from Hawthorn Corporation

bit the hand of a carnival worker while performing at the Orange County Fair.

337

May 7, 1996/Midlothian, Texas: A 6-year-old girl suffered severe injuries to her

head, neck, arms, back, and legs in an attack by a tiger, one of seven big cats at a

private menagerie. Her mother was bitten as she tried to stop the attack. During

the investigation it was found that these same cats had been involved in three

previous documented attacks. The animals were seized and tiger’s owner pleaded

guilty to charges of child endangerment and was placed on probation.

338,339,340,341

January 5, 1996/Vallejo, California: One trainer at Marine World Africa was

seriously hurt and another received minor injuries when they were attacked by

two cougars as they prepared to take the cougars for a walk.

342

1996/Pomona, California: A lion displayed by Safari Wildlife got loose and roamed

around the Los Angeles County fairgrounds before being recaptured.

343

December 26, 1995/Quinlan, Texas: A 3-year-old toddler was mauled by his

family’s pet cougar. His 6-year-old sister suffered minor injuries in the attack. The

cougar was shot and killed.

344

December 18, 1995/Fort Worth, Texas: A 300-pound tiger at the Fort Worth Zoo

leaped an 11-foot-wide moat and attacked a zookeeper. The keeper was bitten on

the shoulder, arm, and hand and was off work for several weeks.

345

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“I don’t appreciate

lions living next door

to me.”

Neighbor of a private

menagerie in Michigan

after a woman was

killed by a pet lion

November 23, 1995/Wake County, North Carolina: A declawed, 350-pound pet

Bengal tiger mauled and critically injured a 3-year-old boy while his father was

walking the animal on a leash. The tiger bit his face, crushing his skull and exposing

his brain. A five-person medical team worked on the boy’s head and face for 14

hours. He was left permanently blind by the incident. The tiger was shot and killed.

The boy’s father was convicted of misdemeanor child abuse.

346,347

November 13, 1995/Memphis, Tennessee: Two Sumatran tigers mauled a man

who entered their enclosure at the Memphis Zoo.

348

November 2, 1995/Washington, D.C.: House Speaker Newt Gingrich was bitten on

the chin by a baby cougar he was holding and who had been brought to the Capitol

by Jack Hanna.

349

October 29, 1995/Allegan County, Michigan: While her 9-year-old daughter

watched in horror, a woman was attacked and killed by a 200-pound declawed pet

lion after she entered her cage at the home of a friend who collected exotic

animals. The friend was seriously injured when he tried to stop the attack and was

flown to a Kalamazoo hospital with neck bites.

350

September 30, 1995/Indianapolis, Indiana: A lion being used by Ringling Bros. and

Barnum & Bailey Circus bit off the index finger of a woman who put her hand in his

cage kept in a staging area.

351

September 27, 1995/Lava Hot Springs, Idaho: Nineteen African lions at Ligertown

Game Farm were tracked, shot, and killed over a 12-hour period after escaping

from flimsy, filthy cages. Another 27 big cats were seized. Ligertown’s two owners

were treated at a hospital for minor injuries. The whole operation cost more than

$1 million.

352

September 18, 1995/Haysville, Kansas: A man shot and killed an African lion he

found pacing on his driveway after the lion had escaped from a neighbor’s pen.

353

September 18, 1995/Wesley, Kansas: A 2-year-old boy required hospital

treatment for a severe bite on his ear from the family’s 4-month-old cougar.

354

September 17, 1995/Wichita, Kansas: A cougar who had escaped and been on the

loose for a week was recaptured.

355

September 1995/Bloomington, Illinois: A man suffered a 3½-inch gash to his hand

when he attempted to pet a leopard at the Miller Park Zoo.

356

August 6, 1995/Phoenix, Arizona: A cougar at the Phoenix Zoo bit a 3-inch chunk

from the arm of a 5-year old boy after he wandered too close to the animal’s cage.

The boy was taken to a hospital where the wound on his arm was stitched closed

and he received treatment for scratches on the side of his chest.

357

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“The bone is

breaking!”

Distraught volunteer at

a Texas zoo on a 911

call while a cougar is

biting her arm

June 2, 1995/Queens, New York: A 2-year-old boy was bitten by his neighbor’s pet

cougar cub when he reached through a barred window to pet the animal. The 9-

month-old cougar nearly severed one of the boy’s fingers, which was reattached at

the hospital.

358

May 28, 1995/Novi, Michigan: Three lions and and four tigers toppled onto a

freeway when the 6-foot by 12-foot trailer they were in came unhitched. An 11-

month old tiger bolted into a wooded area, leading police on a four-hour chase

that included a helicopter search and foot patrols. The animals were en route to a

Home Depot for photo ops with the public.

359,360

March 5, 1995/Washington, D.C.: A woman was fatally mauled by lions after

climbing into an enclosure at the National Zoo. The body was so battered and

shredded so violently that her fingerprints were gone and her face

unrecognizable.

361

December 29, 1994/Scottsbluff, Nebraska: A zookeeper at the Riverside Zoo was

attacked by a 140-pound leopard who sunk his teeth into the woman’s throat. The

victim sustained injuries to her face and chest and required surgery to repair her

windpipe.

362,363

October 11, 1994/San Diego, California: San Diego Zoo animal trainer Joan

Embery suffered two deep gashes on her face from a cheetah she was exhibiting

on a television talk show.

364

June 18, 1994/Columbia, South Carolina: A 17-year-old worker was hospitalized

with bite wounds to his head, neck and legs after he was mauled by a 600-pound

tiger while cleaning the animal’s cage at Taylor’s Exotics animal farm. The tiger was

killed for rabies testing.

365

June 7, 1994/Miami, Florida: A senior zookeeper with 20 years’ experience was

mauled and killed by a 350-pound tiger at Miami Metrozoo while preparing to

move the animal in to the public viewing area.

366

April 5, 1994/Jackson, Mississippi: An 80-pound cheetah scaled an 8-foot fence

and pounced on an 8-year-old boy at the Jackson Zoo. The boy was scratched and

nipped before the cheetah was recaptured.

367

March 22, 1994/Beech Grove, Arkansas: A 150-pound declawed pet cougar

escaped and attacked a 71-year-old year neighbor, inflicting deep bite wounds to

the man’s shoulder and arm.

368

March 1994/Leon, Kansas: An 11-year-old girl was bitten by a 143-pound African

lioness, the same animal who attacked a boy a month earlier. The lioness was

destroyed.

369,370

February 1994/Leon, Kansas: An 11-year-old boy was bitten by a lion who he was

told was tame.

371,372

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“We don’t want

people to feel what

we’re having to.”

Grandmother of a 17-

year-old Kansas girl,

advocating stronger

laws after her

granddaughter was

killed while posing with

a tiger for her senior

picture

December 12, 1993/Palm Beach, Florida: A worker at Lion Country Safari who was

attacked by a 450-pound lion sustained crushed ribs, collapsed lungs, a torn scalp,

a severed neck vein, and more than 20 puncture wounds.

373

September 14, 1993/Joplin, Missouri: A circus employee lost part of her arm after

an attack by a tiger on the circus’ animal farm. Doctors had to amputate her arm

below the elbow.

374

August 9, 1993/Georgetown, Ohio: A teenage boy was hospitalized with facial

cuts when he was attacked by a lion while walking in a field near his home with his

brother and two friends. The pet lion had escaped from a cage at a nearby farm.

His older brother hit the lion several times to stop the attack. The lion was shot

and killed by sheriff’s deputies.

375

May 6, 1993/Las Vegas, Nevada: A keeper feeding a trio of lions in the backyard of

a Las Vegas residence was hospitalized after one of the cats attacked her. The

victim, a member of the Fercos performing family, suffered five gouges to her leg.

During an April performance, another employee was bitten by a lion.

376

May 6, 1993/Bronx, New York: A man with a history of mental instability was

mauled by two lions at the Bronx Zoo after he climbed into their cage and received

19 stitches to his head and face.

377

April 17, 1993/Little Rock, Arkansas: A tiger performing with the Shrine Circus at

the Barton Coliseum escaped, ran into the audience, and bit a 13-year-old girl. The

tiger was owned and trained by Jordan Circus.

378

February 24, 1993/Norfolk, Virginia: Graham Chipperfield, a Ringling Bros. and

Barnum & Bailey Circus big cat trainer, was mauled by a lion while breaking up a

fight between two other lions.

379

February 3, 1993/Wichita, Kansas: A keeper was hospitalized in serious condition

with wounds to his face and neck after being mauled by a Bengal tiger at

Tanganyika Wildlife Company. The tiger lunged through the open door of a cage

and attacked when the keeper bent down to pick up something. A second keeper

attempted to beat the tiger away with a shovel and then shot and killed the

tiger.

380

November 29, 1992/Pahrump, Nevada: A man was severely bitten by a 750-

pound tiger owned by animal trainer Alex Pasternak. The injured man shot and

wounded the tiger in the hip in order to get the animal to release his grip. The

victim was taken to the hospital where he received 35 stitches in his right arm.

381

September 27, 1992/Reno, Nevada: A Reno illusionist underwent surgery after

suffering “bone-deep” bite wounds to his leg and arm by a 250-pound tiger being

used in a performance.

382

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“The first one

grabbed her and the

rest of them joined

in.”

County deputy

describing a volunteer

who was mauled to

death by tigers at a

roadside zoo in

Oklahoma

May 20, 1992/Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania: Two tigers with Clyde Beatty-

Cole Bros. Circus escaped from an unlocked cage during a performance. One tiger

roamed around the center ring, frightening 2,000 spectators before he was

recaptured.

383

April 7, 1992/Iron Hill, Delaware: One of two cougars owned by a private breeder

jumped 12 feet across an enclosure and attacked a woman removing a food dish,

clamping his teeth into the back of her neck and dragging her farther into the cage.

The cougar had the woman pinned for at least three minutes while the cat’s owner

kicked and punched at the animal. The woman sustained bites on the head, neck,

and upper back. The breeder said he would sell the two animals and possibly

replace them with a cub.

384

March 22, 1992/Portland, Oregon: A pet liger (lion-tiger hybrid) attacked an 11-

year-old girl who had to undergo surgery to repair extensive muscle damage in her

arm. The animal would not let go of the girl and had to be shot and killed.

385

October 9, 1991/Manchester, New Hampshire: A model was hospitalized for five

days and received 56 stitches and rabies shots after being attacked by a 550-pound

lion during a photo session. The lion, who was secured by a U-bolt and chain,

pulled the model to him and grabbed her head in his mouth, inflicting wounds to

her back and head. The woman was awarded $75,000 in damages against both the

photographer and Bahgavan Antle, who supplied the lion.

386,387

September 29, 1991/Jackson County, Kansas: A caged lion bit a man on the hand

causing puncture wounds that required stitches after the man attempted to pet

the lion at a Christmas tree farm.

388

September 17, 1991/Tucson, Arizona: A lion cub bit the arm of a 3-year-old girl at

the Reid Park Zoo.

389

August 17, 1991/Fresno, California: A lion with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Circus bit a man who tried to pet the caged lion.

390

June 1, 1991/Anderson County, South Carolina: A 250-pound pet lion escaped

from a backyard chain-link fenced enclosure, burst into a mobile home, and

attacked a 5-year-old girl and her grandmother. The girl’s father wrestled with the

lion until the owner, Tony Allen, arrived and returned the lion to her cage. The girl

required stitches for wounds to her neck and chest. Allen, who later shot and

killed the lion, had recently obtained a USDA license to skirt a county ordinance

prohibiting wild animals as pets.

391

April 18, 1991/Wilkesboro, North Carolina: A 3-year-old girl required stitches after

she was attacked by a leopard traveling with the Great American Circus.

392

November 5, 1990/Phoenix, Arizona: A woman visiting a Phoenix resort was

attacked by a 450-pound tiger while his trainer was walking him on a leash.

Witnesses reported that the tiger acted like a “pussycat” only moments before the

attack. The woman was hospitalized with severe puncture wounds.

393

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

“They’re predators

and they look at a

little child as prey.”

Zoo manager

commenting about a

10-year-old Ohio girl

who was attacked by a

neighbor’s pet cougar

August 9, 1990/Sturgis, South Dakota: A 5-year-old girl was mauled by a 175-

pound leopard who was restrained by a small chain on a box in Engessor’s

Endangered Species traveling act. She was treated at a hospital for puncture

wounds to her arm and back and claw marks on her back. The girl’s mother sued

for $100,000 in damages.

394

June 18, 1990/Sidney, Montana: A 7-year-old boy was bitten by a leopard with a

traveling zoo when the owner removed the animal from a cage so members of the

public could pet her.

395

May 29, 1990/San Francisco, California: A zookeeper was mauled by a leopard in

front of school children at a San Francisco zoo. The keeper underwent surgery for

deep wounds to his head, shoulders, and arm.

396

“Pet cougar bites caseworker, perplexing police,” Columbus Dispatch, June 27, 2012.

“Pataskala woman’s pet mountain lion bites state worker,” WBNS-TV, June 27, 2012.

Katie Maassen, “Gator Ron’s pet cougar escapes cage, kills dog,” WTSP, June 5, 2012.

Armen Keteyian, “Alleged abuse at GW Exotic Animal Park seen on tape,” CBS News, May 16, 2012.

“Outbreak fears as monkey remains on the loose in Ohio after animal park owner dies,” Herald Sun, October 20, 2011.

“Officials try to contain exotic animals after property owner found dead,” Zanesville Times Recorder, October 19, 2011.

Audrie Palmer, “Mountain Lion Mauls Boy,” Midland Reporter-Telegram, October 17, 2011.

Ben Russell, “Tiger attacks wildlife park employee,” CBS 21 News, August 11, 2011.

Mike Kilen, “Rural zoo where tiger attacked keeper is like storybook scene,” Des Moines Register, August 4, 2011.

Brian New and James Muῆoz, “Cougar caged after escape from northwest-side sanctuary,” KENS, November 19, 2010.

Patricia Simms, “Man severely bitten by tiger at Rock Springs big cat rescue facility,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 22, 2010.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement, Incident Report, Log #03-10-01077, October 2, 2010.

Jeff Goldman, “Essex County Turtle Back Zoo orders lockdown after leopard eludes keepers,” The Star-Ledger, September 05, 2010.

“Trainer bitten in MGM Grand lion habitat,” Associated Press, September 2, 2010.

“MGM defends safety practices after lion attack caught on tape,” CNN, September 8, 2010.

Laura Figueroa and Christine Dolen, “Small ape triggered tiger escape at Jungle Island,” Miami Herald, August 30, 2010.

“Toddler comes face to face with escaped Bengal tiger in Miami Zoo,” Daily Mail, September 1, 2010.

“Tiger Cub Gets Out Of Cage During Training Exercise,” WSOC-TV, April 23, 2010.

“Parents Release Photo After Tiger Breaks Out of Cage,” WSOC-TV, April 26, 2010.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Settlement Agreement Case #NC10052-AC, February 20, 2011.

“Bemidji Neighbors on Animal Park Escapees: First Kangaroo, Then Lions, What’s Next?,” KSAX-TV, April 17, 2010.

“Mountain lion sightings reported in Ohio,” Port Clinton News Herald, May 28, 2010.

Jane Musgrave, “Jaguar tears off thumb of visitor to Panther Ridge Conservation Center,” Palm Beach Post, March 5, 2010.

“Metroparks Zoo: Leopard briefly escapes from exhibit,” Mansfield News Journal, October 10, 2009.

“Tiger escapes magic act, ends up on Vegas streets,” Associated Press, July 31, 2009.

“Tiger owner says escape an accident,” Las Vegas Now, July 31, 2009.

“Pet Mountain Lion Bites Girl,” WTOV-TV, May 26, 2009.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #31-C-0133, May 28, 2009.

Cayle Thompson, “Mt. Lion Killed After Escape At Great Bend Zoo,” KAKE-TV, May 25, 2009.

“Zoo: human error set up tiger bite,” WZTV, May 27, 2009.

Alexis Brito, “Cougar on the loose in Osceola County,” WOFL, May 4, 2009.

“Man bitten by tiger at sanctuary east of Springs,” Daily Sentinel, April 24, 2009.

“Man bitten by tiger at Serenity Springs,” KKTV, April 24, 2009.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #58-C-0002, April 23, 2009.

“Lion mauls man at animal refuge; no charges expected,” Associated Press, February 27, 2009.

Joel Fulton and Carol Bicak, “Tiger bites Omaha zoo veterinarian,” World-Herald, February 11, 2009.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, (amended), License #64-C-0185, February 18, 2009.

Email communication with victim’s mother dated February 2009 to February 2010.

Sherry Greenfield and Jeremy Hauck, “Thurmont zookeeper remains in critical condition,” Gazette.net, January 22, 2009.

“USDA faults worker and Catoctin zoo for jaguar attack,” Associated Press, February 24, 2009.

Irene Van Winkle, “Pet tiger escapes, prowls Ingram area before capture,” West Kerr Current, January 22, 2009.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #93-C-0113, January 8, 2009.

big cat incidents

v.2012-09-11

Norm Clarke, “Lion handler gets bitten at MGM,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 12, 2008.

Holly Abrams and Joyce McCartney, “Tiger on loose from sanctuary in Albion,” Journal Gazette, December 9, 2008.

“Pet Bengal tiger killed after escaping from home,” Pet Pulse, December 3, 2008.

Justin D. Anderson, “Exotic animal farm owner says he had to shoot tiger,” Charleston Daily Mail, December 2, 2008.

Tom Mitchell, “Tiger Attacks Guide At Zoo; Animal Bites Hand Of 16-Year-Old Girl,” Daily News Record, November 18, 2008.

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational & Safety Health Administration report, Number 312637879, May 7, 2009.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #52-C-0012, November 21, 2008.

Jose Pagliery, Jennifer Lebovich, and Kirsten Maguire, “Cougar mauls 16-year-old girl,” Miami Herald, November 15, 2008.

Jennifer Lebovich and Luisa Yanez, “Teen mauled by cougar in North Miami-Dade to recover fully,” Miami Herald, November 16, 2008.

“Cheetahs on plane: Animal gets loose in cargo hold,” Associated Press, October 31, 2008.

“Large Cat Attacks Handler,” NewsOn6.com, October 29, 2008.

“Volunteer critically injured by large cat at Broken Arrow sanctuary,” KJRH, October 29, 2008.

“Mauling victim dies,” KJRH, October 31, 2008.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #64-C-0182, September 18, 2008.

“Tiger captured after escape from Fla. sanctuary,” Associated Press, August 20, 2008.

Jerome Burdi and Peter Franceschina, “Missing tiger, lion found at McCarthy’s in western Palm Beach County,” Sun-Sentinel, August 20, 2008.

Steve Timko, “2 leopards seized from home’s roof,” Reno Gazette-Journal, August 20, 2008.

Carolyn Starks and Jeff Long, “From his hospital bed, man dismisses tiger attack as ‘not a big deal’; He suffered puncture wounds in Tuesday attack,”

Chicago Tribune, August 7, 2008.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Investigation/inspection summary, Memo:Animal Welfare Complaint - Complaint #08-219 - Hawthorn Corp - 33-C-0053,

August 18, 2008.

Juliana Goodwin, “16-year-old critically injured in three-tiger attack; Animal park employee attacked after entering cage,” Springfield News-Leader, August

5, 2008.

“Reeds Spring teen’s family sues over tiger attack,” Associated Press, March 28, 2009.

Michael Munz, “Tiger attacks volunteer at area animal farm,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 4, 2008.

Charlie Denn, “Owner: Wesa-A-Geh-Ya Will Close,” Missourian, August 7, 2008.

“African lion loose in eastern El Paso County,” KMGH, July 14, 2008.

Sarah Rice, “Potawatomi Zoo visitors shocked by leopard attack,” WSBT, May 24, 2008.

Christy Arboscello, “Handler hospitalized after lioness attacks him at Detroit Zoo,” Detroit Free Press, May 25, 2008.

Jeff Lehr, “Deputy kills jaguar … or leopard,” Joplin Globe, May 21, 2008.

“Toledo Zoo keeper injured by female tiger,” Toledo Blade, May 12, 2008.

Rochelle E.B. Gilken, “Tiger bites Loxahatchee wildlife trainer during rapper’s video shoot,” Palm Beach Post, May 13, 2008.

“Trainer recovering after tiger bites him at rap video shoot,” Miami Herald, May 14, 2008.

Charles Passy, “Cheetah mauling victim: ‘I was their toy’,” Palm Beach Post, March 31, 2008.

Jane Musgrave, “Cheetahs maul caretaker,” Palm Beach Post, March 29, 2008.

“Panther Attack Worries Northwest Residents,” Las Vegas Now, March 24, 2008.

Lynda Arakawa, “Zoo plans precautions after tiger escape,” Honolulu Advertiser, February 23, 2008.

“Tiger at Palm Beach Zoo nips, hospitalizes worker during feeding,” Sun-Sentinel, February 11, 2008.

Sonja Isger, “Zookeeper’s finger nipped by Mata the tiger,” Palm Beach Post, February 11, 2008.

Shoshana Walter, “Tiger claws volunteer at Davenport Sanctuary,” The Ledger, February 9, 2008.

Amy Johnston, “Volunteer bitten by mountain lion at Bastrop County zoo,” KVUE News, January 23, 2008.

Mark Gomez, “Snow leopard at San Francisco Zoo forces opening in enclosure,” Mercury News, January 11, 2008.

“Escaped cougars captured,” Herald Times Reporter, December 27, 2007.

Jordan Robertson, “Zoo officials probe killing by tiger,” Associated Press, December 26, 2007.

Richard Winton, “Tiger mauls caretaker at actress’ animal sanctuary,” Los Angeles Times, December 4, 2007.

Jim Salter, “Cheetah Cub Briefly Escapes Zoo Exhibit,” Associated Press, November 20, 2007.

“Escaped lion chases cars in Columbus,” WTOL, November 23, 2007.

“Lion’s owner cited for failure to confine the animal,” Associated Press, November 30, 2007.

NEWS AT 5, FOX 5 KVVU-NV, November 23, 2007.

Tom Alex, “Escaped pet tiger mauls dog, is shot by deputy,” Des Moines Register, November 16, 2007.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspection Report, Brian Turner, dba Running Wild, License #88-C-0158, October 10, 2007.

“Tiger Mauls San Antonio Zookeeper; Victim in Critical Condition After Airlift to Hospital, but Expected to Survive,” ABC News, July 15, 2007.

“Zookeeper Attacked By Tiger Forgot To Close Gates,” KWTX, July 18, 2007.

Armando Rios, “Cougars rescued in Marion County,” The Baxter Bulletin, July 7, 2007.

Ted Czech, “Escaped cougar returns,” Daily Record, May 4, 2007.

“Jaguar kills zookeeper at Denver Zoo,” ITV, February 25, 2007.

Dan Elliott, “Jaguar mauling revives zoo debate,” Associated Press, February 28, 2007.

“Jaguar mauls to death Denver Zoo employee,” WLTX-TV, February 26, 2007.

City of San Angelo, Animal Bite Report, January 21, 2007.

“Cougar escapes enclosure at animal preserve,” Indianapolis Star, January 8, 2007.

100

“Some want rules for exotic cat center,” Indianapolis Star, March 31, 2007.

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101

Amy Johnston, “Volunteer bitten by mountain lion at Bastrop County zoo,” KVUE News, January 23, 2008.

102

“Tiger mauls zoo trainer,” Associated Press, December 22, 2006.

103

Chuck Squatriglia, “Zoo closes Lion House after mauling,” San Francisco Chronicle, December 24, 2006.

104

Patricia Yollin, “Horrified zoogoer recalls tiger attack,” San Francisco Chronicle, January 1, 2007.

105

Debbi Wilgoren, “Asia Trail exhibit closed after Clouded leopard Stretches its legs a little too far,” Washington Post, December 23, 2006.

106

Jimmy Nesbitt, “Young tiger claws trainer during circus,” Courier & Press, November 28, 2006.

107

White Tops, January/February 2007, p.61.

108

“Girl mauled by a captive cougar at birthday party,” WJLA, December 8, 2006.

109

Amy Sowder, “Cougars’ freedom short-lived,” Pensacola News Journal, November, 15, 2006.

110

“The Zoo has cat troubles,” Emerald Coast, November 15, 2006.

111

Fawn Roark, “Woman Injured After Placing Arm In Leopard’s Pen,” Mountain Times, October 19, 2006.

112

Monte Mitchell, “New River Zoo closed over inquiry into a leopard bite; Woman says the owner encouraged her to cross a fence to pet the animal,”

Winston-Salem Journal, October 28, 2006.

113

Bob Downing and Gina Mace, “Vet has close call with tiger; Inspector’s arm freed from animal’s mouth at Summit County farm,” Beacon Journal, October

25, 2006.

114

Katherine Rosenberg, “Big cat goes on walk-about in zoo,” Daily Press, October 7, 2006.

115

Ben Montgomery, “Tiger swats its owner inside cage,” St. Petersburg Times, September 13, 2006.

116

S. I. Rosenbaum, “Thrill of training tigers runs in his blood,” St. Petersburg Times, September 22, 2006.

117

Justin George, “Loose tiger killed at zoo,” St. Petersburg Times, August 22, 2006.

118

“Tiger Scratches 4-year-old Boy,” WXXA-TV, July 18, 2006.

119

Kevin Goodwin, “Boy doing fine after tiger gets wild,” Record, July 20, 2006.

120

Don Lehman, “Some escaped Ohio zoo animals used to prowl in Greenwich,” Post Star, October 20, 2011.

121

Deborah Takahara, “Man survives Kaufman County tiger attack,” KTVT, June 20, 2006.

122

Jim Getz, “Man mauled by tiger remains hospitalized,” Dallas Morning News, June 20, 2006.

123

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #74-C-0426, July 20, 2006.

124

Ky Plaskon, “Tiger attacks woman at nearby animal sanctuary,” KLAS-TV, May 18, 2006.

125

“Tiger was 100 pounds underweight at time of brutal attack,” Associated Press, April 11, 2006.

126

“Cheetah escapes at San Antonio Zoo,” WOAI, February 25, 2006.

127

“Zoo worker attacked at the Birmingham Zoo,” WSFA-TV, February 15, 2006.

128

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Pre-License Inspection #2, February 6, 2006.

129

Martin E. Comas, “PETA seeks inquiry into cougar’s strangulation,” Orlando Sentinel, January 27, 2006.

130

Bonnie Naumann, “Tiger escape ends well for tabby,” Post-Star, November 16, 2005.

131

“Breaking News: Loose tiger found, tranquilized,” Post-Star, November 16, 2005.

132

“Zookeeper bitten by tiger in Duluth,” Associated Press, October 7, 2005.

133

Erik Olson, “Boy bitten by tiger,” Chronicle, October 1, 2005.

134

Dakotah M. Davis, “Udall couple mourns loss of grandchild mauled by a tiger,” Winfield Daily Courier, August 20, 2005.

135

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Incident Report, Peoria, Illinois, July 8, 2005.

136

Brandon Coutre, “Lawsuit triggered by tiger attack,” Northwest Herald, June 14, 2007.

137

Robert Franklin and Richard Meryhew, “Boy, 10, critically hurt by lion, tiger; The attack near Little Falls comes on the heels of several others in the state,”

Star Tribune, June 24, 2005.

138

“Boy Attacked By Tiger And Lion Now A Quadriplegic,” Associated Press, June 29, 2005.

139

Brandon Stahl, “Lion owner: Someone let my cat loose,” Daily Journal, June 14, 2005.

140

Tim Rausch, “Big cat attack prompts board look at regs,” Lima News, July 9, 2005.

141

“Tiger Attack Victim Expected to Survive,” KARE11, April 29, 2005.

142

“Bail Set For Tiger Owner,” WCCO, April 29, 2005.

143

Richard Meryhew, “Frontenac tiger-bite victim to get rabies shots,” Star Tribune, May 3, 2005.

144

“Judge: Oly Can’t Keep Animals During Tiger Case,” WCCO, June 3, 2005.

145

Dave Olson, “Tiger claw victim recovering from serious infection in hand,” The Forum, March 22, 2005.

146

Akilah Johnson, “Bengal tiger escapes from cage,” Sun-Sentinel, February 27, 2005.

147

“Authorities kill tiger that had been roaming Simi Valley hills,” Associated Press, February 23, 2005.

148

Catherine Saillant, “Couple admit owning escaped tiger,” Los Angeles Times, January 9, 2007.

149

Angie Wagner, “Group rescues pet tigers, says private ownership should end,” Associated Press, March 2, 2005.

150

Brian Allen, “Neglected Animals Removed From Pahrump Residence,” KLAS-TV, March 2, 2005.

151

Nicole Johnson and Candace Rondeaux, “Tiger cub nips hand of Oldsmar woman,” St. Petersburg Times, February 24, 2005.

152

Burton Speakman, “Woman mauled in leopard attack at Wildlife Extravaganza,” Courier, February 12, 2005.

153

Sue Thackeray, “Owner will not face charges after leopard attack,” Courier, February 15, 2005.

154

“Alleged Zoo Tiger Attack,” KELOLAND TV, January 26, 2005.

155

“Lion cub bites child,” Wiscnews.com, January 23, 2005.

156

Sauk County Health Department, Animal Bite Form, January 20, 2005.

157

Alfonso A. Castillo, “4-year deal in leopard case,” Newsday, December 21, 2005.

158

Chantelle Janelle, “Texas circus worker bitten by Bengal tiger,” WIS, December 5, 2004.

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159

“Teen, police tell of tiger attack,” MSNBC, November 22, 2004.

160

Beckie Ferguson, “Safety of Branson West attraction questioned after leopard bite,” Branson Daily News, December 2, 2004.

161

Serina Wilkins, “Woman is injured by tiger in Gentry,” The Benton County Daily Record, November 10, 2004.

162

“Man injured after sticking hand in jaguar’s cage,” WBOC.com, October 30, 2004.

163

Lucio Guerrero and Andrew Herrman, “Lincoln Park lions maul zoo trainer,” Chicago Sun-Times, September 9, 2004.

164

“Leopard injures employee of Trenton zoo,” Associated Press, September 9, 2004.

165

USDA Decision and Order re Craig Perry, AWA Docket No. 05-0026, March 29, 2012; pgs. 28, 35, 37.

166

Joe McGurk and Cynthia R. Fagen, “QNS. BENGAL TANGLE,” New York Post, August 1, 2004.

167

James DeWeese, “Tiger’s parkway stroll spurs $60M lawsuit,” Times Ledger, December 9, 2004.

168

“Snow leopard escapes in Bullitt County,” WHAS11.com, July 28, 2004.

169

Animal Bite Report, Otter Tail County Sheriff, July 23, 2004.

170

Morrison County Sheriff Investigative Report, ICR #04-005406, July 15, 2004.

171

Akilah Johnson, “Pet tiger eludes capture after escape from one-time Tarzan’s home,” Sun-Sentinel, July 13, 2004.

172

“Police kill tiger as it lunged at officer; Tiger’s owner said to be ‘extremely distraught’,” CNN, July 13, 2004.

173

Glorida McFadden, USDA internal memo regarding “Animal Incident,” June 6, 2004.

174

Letter from Rodney Taylor, Associate Director, Prince George’s County Government, to Ricky Walker, UniverSoul Circus, July 22, 2004.

175

Claire Cahoon, “Woman attacked by African lion in Liberty Township,” Chillicothe Gazette, May 29, 2004.

176

“Officials recapture escaped movie tiger,” The Desert Sun, April 16, 2004.

177

“Girl mauled by grandmother’s caged cougar,” Associated Press, March 17, 2004.

178

Don Cox, “Sierra Safari volunteer will return to work when wounds heal,” Reno Gazette-Journal, March 16, 2004.

179

Becky Malkovich, “LION ATTACKS, KILLS HARDIN COUNTY MAN,” Southern Illinoisan, February 13, 2004.

180

Michelle Krupa, “Leopard was like ‘a baby’ to Port Sulphur woman,” Times-Picayune, February 11, 2004.

181

“Neighbors Sue Man Over His Pet Wildcats,” Associated Press, February 27, 2004.

182

“Tiger mauls 14-year-old girl in Surry County,” Associated Press, January 24, 2004.

183

“10-year-old N.C. boy killed by Bengal tiger,” Associated Press, December 15, 2003.

184

Jerry Engler, “Two tigers killed at exotic-animal confinement,” Hillsboro Free Press, December 16, 2003.

185

“Big Cat Seizure,” KAKE, January 9, 2004.

186

Lois Gormley, “Zoo makes changes in cheetah handling,” The Desert Sun, December 13, 2003.

187

Barbara E. Hernandez, “Cheetah placed in quarantine after biting woman, trainer,” The Press-Enterprise, November 15, 2003.

188

“Relatives Say Tiger Attack On Boy Surprised Them; Officials May Consider Ban On Exotic Pets,” NBC17, December 16, 2003.

189

Caleb Soptelean, “Handler’s wrong move draws ‘lightening quick’ strike from tiger,” Kingman Daily Minor, October 15, 2003.

190

Mike Weatherford, “TIGER ATTACK: Roy’s Injuries ‘severe’,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 5, 2003.

191

J.M. Kalil and Dave Berns, “Tiger attacks Roy onstage, Illusionist listed in critical condition after bite to neck,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 4, 2003.

192

“Tiger keeper plans to visit ‘pet’ in Ohio,” Associated Press, April 9, 2004.

193

“Pet mountain lion mauls dog,” Telegraph-Forum, August 21, 2003.

194

Jim Salter, “Fence going up after cheetah briefly escaped yard at zoo,” Associated Press, August 14, 2003.

195

Timothy San Pedro, “Big cats, heat rule on opening day of Riverfest,” LaCrosse Tribune, July 3, 2003.

196

“Man critically injured in tiger attack,” The Denver Channel, June 30, 2003.

197

Elleen Kelley, “Cat-refuge worker survives attack of two tigers,” Denver Post, July 1, 2003.

198

“Tiger bites firefighter at Crossett Zoo,” Ashley County Ledger, June 23, 2003.

199

Sworn affidavits provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

200

Kevin Blocker, “Suit alleges tiger mauling,” Spokesman-Review, April 10, 2004.

201

“Animal park faces fines,” Associated Press, May 28, 2003.

202

Rosemary Barnes, “Lioness killed after escape from sanctuary,” San Antonio Express-News, April 7, 2003.

203

“Tulsan is killed in attack by tiger,” Tulsa World, April 3, 2003.

204

Kevin King, “Animal Handler Killed By Bengal Tigers,” KTUL, April 2, 2003.

205

U.S. Department of Agriculture, AWA Docket No. 04-A032, Decision and Order, March 22, 2007.

206

Gary L. Smith, “Tigers killed in effort to save man; Victim ran licensed exotic cats sanctuary,” Journal Star, April 2, 2003.

207

Steve Gibson, “Tiger bites keeper at Sacramento,” Sacramento Bee, March 24, 2003.

208

State of Minnesota vs. Grant William Oly, Summons, SJIS Complaint #25-11-5-012916, May 8, 2003.

209

“Tiger Euthanized After Biting Pregnant Woman,” WCCO, June 3, 2003.

210

“Bengal tiger escapes in Jacksonville while cage is cleaned,” Associated Press, February 4, 2003.

211

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #58-C-0505, February 6, 2003.

212

David Chanen, “Tiger cub’s plight prompts call for exotic-pets law,” Star Tribune, February 12, 2003.

213

Vanita Washington, “Fugitive cougar captured in woman’s yard,” The Greenville News, January 8, 2003.

214

Kate O’Hare, “‘24’ hazards lurk in real life, too,” The Times Union, December 16, 2002.

215

“Cougar clamps down on Cuthbert,” Zap2it, December 12, 2002.

216

“Who let the cat out?,” The Washington Post, December 15, 2002.

217

State of Minnesota vs. Grant William Oly, Summons, SJIS Complaint #25-11-5-012916, May 8, 2003.

218

“Tigers spotted on Vegas Rooftop,” KLAS-TV, October 28, 2002.

219

“Zookeeper not angry at lion that attacked him,” Associated Press, November 12, 2002.

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220

Brian X. McCrone, “Husband of “Tiger Lady” attacked in pen,” The Times, October 12, 2002.

221

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Memorandum from Robert M. Gibbens, Director, Western Region, USDA, APHIS, Animal Care to Tim Fordahl, Western

Regional Director, Investigative and Enforcement Services, October 15, 2002.

222

Megan Hopper, “Police shoot, kill escaped tiger; Animal fled from owners at B-N truck stop,” Pantagraph, September 29, 2002.

223

Karen Blatter, “Feds investigate tiger shooting,” Pantagraph, October 1, 2002.

224

Kevin Simpson, “Police wait for tiger charges,” Pantagraph, October 18, 2002.

225

“Four lions killed near Arkansas town,” Associated Press, September 24, 2002.

226

Ken McLaughlin, “State probes tiger incident,” San Jose Mercury News, September 24, 2002.

227

“Leopard claws zoo handler, banished from stage in favor of breeding,” Associated Press, July 26, 2002.

228

“Leopard claws zoo handler, banished from stage in favor of breeding,” Associated Press, July 26, 2002.

229

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #82-C-0035, July 2, 2002.

230

April Simun, “WOMAN FINED FOR FAILING TO CONFINE LIONS,” The State, July 26, 2002.

231

State of Minnesota vs. Grant William Oly, Summons, SJIS Complaint #25-11-5-012916, May 8, 2003.

232

“Owner found guilty after tiger bites child,” Associated Press, September 28 2002.

233

“Lion bites arm off Fla. zookeeper,” Associated Press, May 12, 2002.

234

Vickie Chachere, “Surgeons cannot reattach woman’s arm,” Associated Press, May 13, 2002.

235

Brady Dennis, “Lion attack brings lawsuit,” St. Petersburg Times, June 4, 2003.

236

“Easley family’s pet tiger bites son in leg,” Post and Courier, April 28, 2002.

237

State of Minnesota vs. Grant William Oly, Summons, SJIS Complaint #25-11-5-012916, May 8, 2003.

238

“PARK DIRECTOR INJURED BY TEXAS MOUNTAIN LION,” GW Exotic Animal Park web site, GW Exotic News, March - April 2002.

239

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #43-C-0154, March 5, 2002.

240

“Mitchell shoots, kills ‘unstable’ tiger,” Pahrump Valley Times, February 15, 2002.

241

William Cooper Jr. and Sanjay Bhatt, “Local pet tiger fractures woman’s head,” Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2002.

242

Susan Thurston, “Tiger encounter gets too close,” St. Petersburg Times, February 2, 2002.

243

“Two injured in attack in drive-through safari,” Associated Press, January 24, 2002.

244

Kevin Ellis, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Incident/Offense Report, Centerville, December 30, 2001.

245

Doug McMurdo, “Nye sued over tiger bite,” Pahrump Valley Times, February 8, 2002.

246

Claire Osborn, “3-year-old boy killed by pet tiger at grandparent’s house,” Austin American-Statesman, October 11, 2001.

247

“Woman attacked by caged lion,” Topeka Capital Journal, August 20, 2001.

248

Saundra Amrhein and Jamie Malernee, “Agitated tiger, hole in fence, over in an instant,” St. Petersburg Times, August 2, 2001.

249

“Tiger fatally mauls worker at animal park,” Associated Press, August 10, 2001.

250

Jason Garcia, “Widow sues tiger owner,” Orlando Sentinel, March 28, 2002.

251

“Tiger that bit girl euthanized,” United Press International, July 27, 2001.

252

Robert Franklin, “Judge orders killing of tiger that bit child,” Star Tribune, July 26, 2001.

253

“Animal escapes for 10 hours at Nashville Zoo,” Associated Press, June 26, 2001.

254

“Escaped tiger killed by sheriff’s officer,” Topeka Capital-Journal, April 30, 2001.

255

“Alleged lioness remains elusive,” The Crescent-News, April 29, 2001.

256

“One of three pet tigers dies after capture,” THV, April 9, 2001.

257

“Omaha Wowed,” Circus Report, May 21, 2001.

258

Frank Geary, “Animal control officers had cited tiger’s owner,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 29, 2001.

259

Marsha Paxson, “Lion on the loose in Morgan - Big cat escapes from troubled wildlife facility near lake; school alerts parents on bus route, cops search

woods,” Lake Sun Leader, March 26, 2001.

260

Marsha Paxson, “Caged - Deer-baited trap snares escaped lion who terrorized Morgan neighborhood,” Lake Sun Leader, March 27, 2001.

261

“Authorities Bait Trap with Chicken to Capture Lion who Escaped from Private Reserve in Ozarks,” Associated Press, April 1, 2001.

262

Marsha Paxxon, “Guilty plea in big cat case,” Lake Sun Leader, June 11, 2001.

263

THOMAS J. QUINN Thomas J. Quinn, “500-lb. tiger attacks; owner saves victim,” Plain Dealer, March 20, 2001.

264

Sonseeahray Tonsall, “Tiger on the loose,” KARK-TV, March 16, 2001.

265

Kevan Mathis, “Escaped Bengal tiger shot,” Harrison Daily Times, March 19, 2001.

266

“Cougar jumps on bus,” KVBC, January 26, 2001.

267

“‘Cat Bus:’ Big cat hops aboard school bus,” KTNV, January 26, 2001.

268

Untitled, Associated Press, December 20, 2000.

269

“Nature center owner is charged over escaped mountain lion; The animal killed dogs and got into a house where a child was hiding,” Associated Press,

December 7, 2000.

270

Daniel Connolly, “Big cats attack boy, Kenyon student,” The Kenyon Collegian, October 26, 2000.

271

Rita Price, “BIG-CAT FACILITY CLOSED FOR NOW,” Columbus Dispatch, November 25, 2000.

272

“White tiger cub removed from fair for biting man,” KOB-TV, September 14, 2000.

273

“Wild Animals Kept As Pets Can Pose Danger,” KELOLAND TV, September 22, 2000.

274

“Teen Atacked By Tiger Will Stay With Father,” KELOLAND TV, October 13, 2000.

275

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, License #73-C-0133, August 16, 2000.

276

“Tiger attacks patron at zoo fund-raiser,” Associated Press, August 12, 2000.

277

Alyssa Waters, “Cougar bites park worker,” Chippewa Herald, July 12, 2000.

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278

Kevin Simpson, “Man bitten by leopard at Miller Park Zoo; B-N resident allegedly leapt fence to pet cat,” Pantagraph, June 7, 2000.

279

S.K. Bardwell, “Tiger captured after escaping cage,” Houston Chronicle, June 7, 2000.

280

“Caged tiger bites off woman’s arm,” Associated Press, May 21, 2000.

281

“Feds probe tiger attack on girl,” United Press International, May 17, 2000.

282

Leigh Hopper, “Tiger quarantined / Boy likely will have use of arm,” Houston Chronicle, March 17, 2000.

283

Lisa Teachey, “In wake of tiger attack, a hard choice / Family weighs move here for boy’s recovery,” Houston Chronicle, March 30, 2000.

284

Chuck Smith, “High school student gets nibbled when she puts her hand in cougar’s cage,” Great Bend Tribune, February 25, 2000.

285

“Tiger owner often investigated,” Associated Press, November 24, 2004.

286

“Pet lion attacks 5-year-old boy,” Associated Press, December 4, 1999.

287

Alex Branch, “Escaped Lions Returned to Cages,” Wichita Eagle, November 19, 1999.

288

“Zookeeper bitten and clawed by leopard,” Associated Press, October 31, 1999.

289

James Prichard, “Zookeeper, on job for three weeks, mauled by lion,” Associated Press, October 21, 1999.

290

“Sterling woman mauled by zoo tiger,” Associated Press, June 25, 1999.

291

Becky Cooper, “Tiger kills Yorktown 9-year-old,” Victoria Advocate, June 8, 1999.

292

Becky Cooper, “Sentence handed out in tiger trial,” Victoria Advocate, June 1, 2000.

293

Gary Lynch, “Victim of tiger attack making good recovery,” Tyler Morning Telegraph, March 31, 1999.

294

Debra Franco, “Leopard attacks boy at zoo,” Gazette, March 17, 1999.

295

“Zoo worker mauled by Sumatran tiger,” Courier & Press, February 28, 1999.

296

“Tiger on the Prowl Escaped from Farm,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 29, 1999.

297

“Tiger bites 5-year-old,” Associated Press, January 9, 1999.

298

“Tiger owner often investigated,” Associated Press, November 24, 2004.

299

“Circus trainer clawed by tiger in serious condition,” Chicago Tribune, November 23, 1998.

300

“Owner attacked by pet lion,” States News Service, November 20, 1998.

301

“COUGAR ATTACK; Just a Big Mac to him,” Herald-Sun, November 30, 1998.

302

“Bengal tiger kills again,” Boca Raton News, November 15, 1998.

303

“Tigers escape pens at Cut and Shoot; 1 eludes searchers,” Houston Chronicle, November 8, 1998.

304

“Police, dogs search for Texas tiger,” Reuters, November 9, 1998.

305

Paul McKay, “Searchers kill 2nd escaped tiger in thicket near Cut and Shoot,” Houston Chronicle, November 9, 1998.

306

Bob Arndorfer, “White tiger bites, kills its trainer,” Orlando Sun, October 9, 1998.

307

Tim Grant, “Caged leopard attacks sanctuary volunteer,” St. Petersburg Times, September 4, 1998.

308

Gretchen Parker, “Hurt teen will work with animals, mom says,” Sarasota Herald Tribune, August 25, 1998.

309

Gretchen Parker, “Bite’s impact felt six months later,” Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 14, 1999.

310

“Tiger mauls woman posing for photo at California park,” Associated Press, August 1, 1998.

311

“Boy clawed by tiger at N.D. fair,” Associated Press, July 31, 1998.

312

Roy Appleton, “Lucky stripes; Cougar trouble leads woman to tiger in need of home,” Dallas Morning News, January 21, 1999.

313

Maki Becker, “Zoo owner pries worker’s head from lion’s jaws,” Charlotte Observer, April 8, 1998.

314

Michelle Bradford, “Tiger mauling at refuge an accident,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 15, 1998.

315

“Tiger bites 5-year-old,” Associated Press, January 9, 1999.

316

Jeff Diamant, “Playful leopard nearly kills trainer as 100 watch,” Charlotte Observer, February 11, 1998.

317

Stephen Thompson, “Tiger mauls trainer,” Tampa Tribune, January 10, 1998.

318

“Relatives sue over attack by tiger,” Associated Press, May 6, 1999.

319

Amy Collins, “Jaguar bites second trainer as film chase turns real,” The Daily News, October 24, 1997.

320

“Trainer injured by jaguar on film set,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 16, 1997.

321

Trainer recovering from panther attack,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 17, 1997.

322

Letter from Thomas French, Assistant Director, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, to Heidi Riggs, Bridgeport Nature Center, March 25, 1998.

323

Jonathan Nelson, “Couple wants Columbia County to impose ban on exotic animals,” The Oregonian, December 14, 1999.

324

“Texas,” USA Today, May 8 1997.

325

“Tiger kills trainer in front of children,” Associated Press, May 8, 1997.

326

Stephanie Spellers, “KNOX COUNTY BOY, 4, CLAWED BY CAGED EXOTIC LION-TIGER,” News-Sentinel, May 5, 1997.

327

“Killer leopard shot to death,” Associated Press, April 30, 1997.

328

Jaime Castillo, “Man injured by tiger at animal orphanage,” San Antonio Express-News, April 28, 1997.

329

“Handler recovering from tiger attack,” UPI, March 21, 1997.

330

Anita McDivitt, “Tiger takes morning stroll,” San Antonio Express-News, March 19, 1997.

331

“Tiger recaptured after killing ostrich,” United Press International, March 18, 1997.

332

James Pinkerton, “Darling – but dangerous,” Houston Chronicle, June 22, 1997.

333

Jeannie Kever, “Big cats and other wild reasons to dream,” Texas - Houston Chronicle Magazine, January 19, 2003.

334

“3 GET RABIES SHOTS TO SAVE TIGER’S LIFE,” Associated Press, December 31, 1996.

335

“Tiger attacks Vegas trainer,” Las Vegas Sun, October 9, 1996.

336

Kevin Moran, “Declawed pet lion shot in escape dies despite vets’ efforts,” Houston Chronicle, September 19, 1996.

337

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Speed Memo, Hawthorn Corporation, July 18, 1996.

338

“Girl’s condition critical after tiger mauling, car accident,” Charleston Gazette, May 9, 1996.

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339

“Owner of tiger that mauled girl outside Dallas lacked permit,” Austin American-Statesman, May 11, 1996.

340

“Tiger’s owner indicted,” Houston Chronicle, May 24, 1996.

341

James Pinkerton, “Darling – but dangerous,” Houston Chronicle, June 22, 1997.

342

Kenneth J. Garcia, “Two Marine World trainers attacked by cougars,” San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 1996.

343

Frank Geary, “Animal control officers had cited tiger’s owner,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 29, 2001.

344

“Texas,” USA Today, December 27, 1995.

345

Anita Baker, “Zoo to learn why tiger wires failed,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 4, 1996.

346

Kelly Thompson Cochran and Steve Swindell, “Family’s pet tiger attacks, seriously wounds 3-year-old boy,” News & Observer, November 24, 1995.

347

J. Mike Blake and Ted Richardson, “Blinded by a tiger at age 3, teen comes out a winner,” The Daily News Online, March 7, 2010.

348

USA Today, November 13, 1995.

349

“Baby cougar bites Gingrich,” Associated Press, November 2, 1995.

350

Peg West and Ken Kolker, “Officials probe fatal lion attack in Fennville,” Grand Rapids Press, October 30, 1995.

351

“Woman tries to pet lion, loses fingers,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 3, 1995.

352

Genevieve Judge, “Look Back At Bannock County’s Ligertown,” KIFI, February 17, 2011.

353

“ACROSS THE USA: NEWS FROM EVERY STATE,” USA Today, September 19, 1995.

354

Mike Hutmacher, “Where the Wild Things are Officials Call for More Regulation of Exotic Pets,” Wichita Eagle, September 19, 1995.

355

“Where the wild things are,” Wichita Eagle, September 19, 1995.

356

Kevin Simpson, “Man bitten by leopard at Miller Park Zoo; B-N resident allegedly leapt fence to pet cat,” Pantagraph, June 7, 2000.

357

Robert Boos, “ Mesa boy gets painful lesson from Phoenix Zoo mountain lion,” Mesa Tribune, August 7, 1995.

358

“2-Year-Old Boy Hurt In Pet Cougar Attack,” New York Times, June 4, 1995.

359

“Tiger Loose 4 Hours After Crash of Van in Michigan,” Associated Press, May 30, 1995.

360

“Tiger Escapes after Truck Overturns, Tranquilized Hours Later,” Associated Press, May 29, 1995.

361

Paul Duggan, “Lion victim entered exhibit on purpose, D.C. officials say,” Washington Post, March 8, 1995.

362

“Leopard mauling,” Associated Press, January 2, 1995.

363

T.L. Henion, “Woman Has No Memory of Cat Attack Mauled Zoo Worker Healing Fast,” Omaha World Herald, January 4, 1995.

364

“Bad kitty,” Washington Times, October 12, 1994.

365

“Tiger Attacks Animal Farm Worker,” Associated Press, June 20, 1994.

366

John Lantiqua, “Metro Zoo tries to unravel mystery mauling by tiger,” Herald, June 7, 1994.

367

“Cheetah attack,” Associated Press, April 5, 1994.

368

Larry Young, “Pet cougar attacks man in his yard,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 23, 1994.

369

“Where the wild things are,” Wichita Eagle, September 19, 1995.

370

“Elk County couple has history of animal trouble,” WIBW-TV, March 21, 2008.

371

“Where the wild things are,” Wichita Eagle, September 19, 1995.

372

“Elk County couple has history of animal trouble,” WIBW-TV, March 21, 2008.

373

“Lion mauling,” USA Today, December 14, 1993.

374

“Circus employee mauled by tiger,” Washington Times, September 15, 1993.

375

“Teen rescues brother from lion attack,” Columbus Dispatch, August 11, 1993.

376

“Woman home after lion’s bite,” Review-Journal, June 5, 1993.

377

“Man sits with lions--and survives,” Associated Press, May 7, 1993.

378

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Civil Penalty Stipulation Agreement, October 6, 1993.

379

Robert Guy Matthews, “CIRCUS LION MAULS ITS TRAINER AT SCOPE,” Virginian-Pilot, February 25, 1993.

380

“Tiger mauls animal farm employee,” Washington Times, February 5, 1993.

381

“Tiger shot after attacking Californian,” Review-Journal, December 1, 1992.

382

“Tiger attacks illusionist in Reno,” Las Vegas Sun, September 28, 1992.

383

“Uncaged,” Associated Press, May 22, 1992.

384

Ann Stewart, “Woman survives attack by cougar,” News Journal, April 8, 1992.

385

“HOTLINE,” Circus Report, April 6, 1992.

386

Pat Grossmith, “Bedford model wins $75,000 in lion case,” The Union Leader, March 24, 1995.

387

“Manchester, New Hampshire,” USA Today, March 18, 1995.

388

Matt Campbell, “Man trying to pet a caged lion is bitten on hand,” Kansas City Star, October 1, 1991.

389

“Lion cub bites girl,” Journal, September 18, 1991.

390

John D. Cramer, “Man sticks hand in lion’s cage, is bitten,” Fresno Bee, August 18, 1991.

391

“Lion Bursts Into Mobile Home, Attacks Child,” Associated Press, June 3, 1991.

392

“Circus had earlier violations,” Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 5, 1992.

393

Abraham Kwok, “Tiger wounds resort visitor,” The Arizona Republic, November 6, 1990.

394

Barbara Ordahl, “Lawsuit filed in mauling,” Rapid City Journal, August 8, 1991.

395

“Leopard showings continue,” Associated Press, July 25, 1990.

396

Perry Lang, “Leopard’s bloody attack on keeper at SF Zoo,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 30, 1990.