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List of zoo escapes

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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The following is an uncomplete list of notable incidents where one or multiple animals escaped from their enclosures at zoos.

Austria

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2012 Salzburg Zoo Salzburg Eurasian lynx One day A Eurasian lynx named Vivious managed to escape after a storm damaged its enclosure."Salzburg Zoo lynx caught but croc still on the loose after escape". news.com.au. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2024.</ref>

Canada

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2024 Greenview Park and Zoo Morpeth, Ontario Red kangaroo 3 hours A kangaroo escaped the Greenview Zoo by unknown means before being spotted by an Amazon driver and being captured by the Ontario Provincial Police.[1]
2023 Oshawa Zoo Oshawa, Ontario Eastern grey kangaroo Four days A kangaroo escaped while being transported by truck. It eluded capture for a week before being captured by Ontario Provincial Police.
2023 Waddles 'n' Wags Animal Haven Eganville, Ontario Serval Never found A serval escaped from a roadside zoo and is presumed dead.
2022 Greater Vancouver Zoo Langley, British Columbia Wolf 2 days Two wolfs escaped from the Greater Vancouver Zoo after a hole was cut in their enclosure. One was recovered safely while the other was struck by a car and killed.[2]
2021 Papanack Park Zoo Wendover, Ontario Kangaroo Unknown A kangaroo escaped before being found seriously injured on a highway. It was euthanized.
2019 Roaring Cat Retreat Lambton Shores, Ontario Lion Unknown Two lion cubs escaped from an illegal zoo.
2019 Zoo Sauvage de St-Félicien Saint-Félicien, Quebec Wolverine Never found [3]
2017 Chippewa Park Wildlife Exhibit Thunder Bay, Ontario Bald eagle Never found Two bald eagles escaped after their enclosure was vandalized. One was never found.
2016 High Park Zoo Toronto, Ontario Capybara 35 days Two Capybara's known as 'Bonnie & Clyde' escaped from the High Park Zoo. One Capybara was captured after 19 days while the other remained on the loose for 35 days.[4]
2016 Papanack Park Zoo Wendover, Ontario Lion 2 hours A lion managed to escape before being shot by police
2015 High Park Zoo Toronto, Ontario Indian peafowl 5 days A peacock escaped his enclosure and explored Toronto before returning to the zoo[5]
2013 Magnetic Hill Zoo Moncton, New Brunswick Indian peafowl One week [6]
2013 Calgary Zoo Calgary, Alberta Hippopotamus Several hours The two hippopotamus escaped their enclosure during the 2013 flood, but were safely returned by the zoo staff.[7]
2013 GuZoo Animal Farm Three Hills, Alberta Yak, Sheep, Coyote, Ostrich, Sika deer A day [8]
2009 Greater Vancouver Zoo Langley, British Columbia Blue-and-yellow macaw Three days Chuva the macaw escaped his enclosure before hiding in an RV. The RV driver discovered the bird three days later and returned it to the zoo.[9]
2008 Guha Exotic Animal Reserve Huntsville, Ontario Jaguar 1 day A six year old Jaguar escaped from the now closed zoo, attacking a dog before being shot by police.
2007 Safari Niagara Stevensville, Ontario Syrian brown bear Several hours [10]
2007 Bergeron's Exotic Animal Sanctuary Picton, Ontario Japanese macaque 48 hours Escaped before being tranquilized by a bylaw officer
2006 Chippewa Wildlife Exhibit Thunder Bay, Ontario Wolf One week A wolf escaped after jumping over its 8-foot fence. The wolf was shot by police.
1997 Bear Creek Sanctuary Barrie, Ontario Tiger 2 days A tiger escaped its enclosure. It was found two days later and tranquilized.
1997 Lickety Split Ranch and Zoo London, Ontario Tiger 4 hours
1958 Storybook Gardens London, Ontario California sea lion 10 days A sea lion named Slippery managed to escape his enclosure, travelling into the United States before being caught in Toledo, Ohio.
1939 Calgary Zoo Calgary, Alberta California sea lion 3 months A sea lion named "Buster" became a local celebrity after escaping from the Calgary Zoo and travelling through irrigation canals to Chestermere Lake and then to Bassano where he played with children.[11]

China

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2021 Hangzhou Safari Park Hangzhou Leopard Never found [12]

France

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2021 Trois Vallées zoo Montredon-Labessonnié Wolf Unknown A pack of wolves escaped after destroying the safety hatches on their enclosure. Four were shot and killed, while five were tranquilized.[13]
2018 Paris Zoological Park Paris Guinea baboon Several hours 50 baboons escaped, causing the zoo to be temporarily shut down.[14]

Georgia

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2015 Tbilisi Zoo Tbilisi Hippopotamus, tiger, brown bear, pig, lion, hyena Multiple days Over half the animals from the Tbilisi zoo either escaped or were killed during the 2015 Tbilisi flood. One of the tigers also mauled a man to death while eluding capture.[15]

Germany

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2018 Eifel Zoo Lünebach Lion, jaguar, tiger, Eurasian brown bear Several hours Multiple animals escaped from the private zoo during a flash flood. One bear was shot and the other animals were captured.[16]

Greece

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2022 Attica Zoological Park Spata Chimpanzee 20 minutes A zoo came under scrutiny after shooting a chimpanzee that had escaped.[17]
2018 Attica Zoological Park Spata Jaguar Unknown [18]

Japan

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2012 Tokyo Sea Life Park Tokyo Humboldt penguin 82 days [19]

The Netherlands

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2007 Diergaarde Blijdorp Rotterdam Western gorilla Less than a day Bokito (gorilla)

Poland

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2023 Gdańsk Zoo Gdańsk Red panda A few hours [20]

South Korea

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2023 Children's Grand Park Seoul Plains zebra 3 hours Following the death of his parents, a Plains zebra named Sero escaped from his enclosure. Wandering through the streets of Seoul and running through traffic. Sero was tranquilized and brought back to the zoo.[21]

Spain

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2010 Cocodrilo Park Gran Canaria Tiger Unknown Three tigers escaped a zoo and were later shot by police.[22]

United Kingdom

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2024 Dartmoor Zoological Park Devon, England Palawan binturong 19 days [23]
2024 Amazon World Zoo Park Isle of Wight, England Raccoon Seven days Four raccoons escaped, with the last being captured seven days later.[24]
2024 Hoo Zoo Shropshire, England Capybara One week [25]
2024 Highland Wildlife Park Kingussie, Scotland Japanese macaque Five days The macaque, named Honshu, escaped and survived in the wild for five days before being captured after being found eating from a bird feeder two miles away in Kincraig.[26]
2023 Newquay Zoo Cornwall, England Red panda One day [27]
1965 London Zoo London, England Golden eagle 12 days Goldie (eagle)

United States

[edit]
Year Zoo Location Species Time loose Notes
2023-2024 Central Park Zoo New York City Eurasian eagle-owl One year Flaco the owl escaped from his enclosure, living in Central Park for a year drawing much attention and eluding attempts at being captured.
2023 Dallas Zoo Dallas, Texas Clouded leopard Several hours A clouded leopard named Nova was intentionally let out of her enclosure by a man named Davion Irvin, who also killed a vulture at the zoo and stole two monkeys.[28]
2022 Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Jacksonville, Florida Black bear Under an hour A black bear was shot after escaping its enclosure and attacking a zookeeper.[29]
2021 Minnesota Zoo Apple Valley, Minnesota Eurasian eagle-owl 14 days Gladys (owl)
2018 Audubon Zoo New Orleans, Louisiana Jaguar 1 hour, 35 minutes A jaguar named Valerio managed to escape his enclosure, entering other enclosures in the zoo and killed four alpacas, one emu, and one fox. The jaguar was tranquilized and was not harmed.[30]
2017 Smithsonian National Zoo Washington, D.C. Bobcat Two days [31]
2013 Smithsonian National Zoo Washington, D.C. Red panda One day Rusty the red panda escaped from his enclosure around 7:30 AM. He was found in the Adams Morgan neighborhood and rescued from a tree by the local humane society.[32]
2011 Muskingum County Animal Farm Zanesville, Ohio Bengal tiger, black bear, grizzly bear, wolf, macaque, baboon, cougar, lion One night See 2011 Zanesville, Ohio animal escape
2011 Bronx Zoo New York City Egyptian cobra Six days An Egyptian cobra managed to elude zookeepers and survive nearly a week outside of its enclosure at the Bronx Zoo.[33]
2007 San Francisco Zoo San Francisco, California Siberian tiger One night See San Francisco Zoo tiger attacks
2005 Sedgwick County Zoo Wichita, Kansas Lesser flamingo 17 years Two flamingos, Flamingo 492 and 347, escaped their enclosure during a storm. One of the flamingos was last seen in Minnesota, while the other was last seen in 2022 in Port Lavaca, Texas.[34]
1997 Oakland Zoo Oakland, California American bison Half an hour [35]
1987 Tracy Aviary Salt Lake City, Utah Chilean flamingo 18 years See Pink Floyd the flamingo
1985-1987 San Diego Zoo San Diego, California Bornean orangutan Usually under an hour The orangutan Ken Allen escaped his enclosure nine times.
1957 Bronx Zoo New York City Platypus Never found Penelope (platypus)
1904 Bronx Zoo New York City Snow leopard One day A snow leopard managed to escape the Bronx zoo before being shot.[36]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Becken, Bob (10 January 2024). "Kangaroo escapes southwestern Ontario zoo, found safe several kilometres away". CBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  2. ^ Judd, Amy (19 August 2022). "Wolf missing from Greater Vancouver Zoo found safe, ending 72-hour search". Global News. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Wolverine on the lam after escaping from Quebec's Saint-Félicien Zoo". CBC News. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  4. ^ "The High Park capybaras enthralled the city after their famous escape. Now, they've embraced the quiet life". Toronto Star. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  5. ^ "High Park Zoo peacock returns home after gallivanting about town". CBC News. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  6. ^ Brown, Laura (23 May 2013). "Escaped peacock caught, returned to Magnetic Hill Zoo". Global News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ White, Ryan (23 June 2013). "Hippos escape Calgary Zoo enclosure". CTV News. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Animals escape from Alberta zoo; staff say holes cut in fences". CTV News. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  9. ^ "The missing lynx and five other animal escapees including Ken Allen the Orangutan". BBC. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Bear captured after brief stint on the lam in Ontario town". CBC News. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Buster Plays With Fish and Football". Calgary Herald. 6 July 1939. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Chickens released as bait in hunt for escaped leopard in China". The Guardian. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  13. ^ "French zoo closed temporarily after pack of nine wolves escape". BBC. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  14. ^ Willsher, Kim (26 January 2018). "Paris zoo shut after 50 baboons escape". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  15. ^ Jones, Jonathan (8 July 2015). "Tbilisi zoo tragedy: the pathos of an escaped hippo". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Escaped lions and tigers back in cages at zoo in Germany". The Guardian. 1 June 2018.
  17. ^ Wichmann, Anna (26 June 2022). "Chimpanzee Escaped from Athens Zoo, Shot Dead". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  18. ^ Kokkindis, Tasos (15 December 2018). "Rare Jaguars Killed at Greek Zoo After Escaping Enclosure". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  19. ^ McCurry, Justin (25 May 2012). "Japan's escaped penguin recaptured after 82 days on the run". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Red panda, tired of partner, escapes Polish zoo and gets stuck in tree". Notes from Poland. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  21. ^ Mannie, Kathryn (24 March 2023). "Lonely zebra escapes zoo, runs loose in the streets of Seoul". Global News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  22. ^ "3 zoo tigers escape in Spain, killed by police". NBC News. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Dartmoor Zoo's missing bearcat found in woodshed". BBC. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  24. ^ Moreno, Jon (7 November 2024). "Captured Amazon World raccoons in good health after 'Great Escape'". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  25. ^ Rack, Susie (27 September 2024). "How Cinnamon's great escape led to capybara craze". BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  26. ^ Mitchell, Jenness (29 February 2024). "Honshu the monkey moved to Edinburgh Zoo from Highland Wildlife Park for 'fresh start' after escape". Skynews. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  27. ^ O'Shea, Johnny (30 May 2023). "Escaped red panda seen 'ambling' down street". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  28. ^ Sy, Stephanie; Norris, Courtney (8 February 2023). "Monkey theft, leopard escape at Dallas Zoo raise questions about safety of animals". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Bear fatally shot after escaping exhibit, injuring keeper at Jacksonville Zoo". News4JAX. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  30. ^ Nielsen, Kevin (14 July 2018). "Jaguar escapes at New Orleans zoo, kills 6 other animals before capture". Global News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  31. ^ Gault, Matthew (10 May 2022). "Here's All the Animals That Escaped From the National Zoo". VICE News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Pandemonium: Rusty the Red Panda Escapes the Zoo". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Poisonous Egyptian Cobra That Escaped Bronx Zoo Cage is Found". ABC News. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  34. ^ Rogers, Kristen (1 April 2022). "Pink Floyd, a fugitive flamingo on the run for 17 years from a Kansas zoo, has been spotted on tour in Texas". CNN. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  35. ^ "9 missing bison lured back to zoo with bread". Toledo Blade. 14 November 1997. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Other scary animals that have escaped the Bronx Zoo". Boweryboyshistory. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
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