We analyze the pet care market, pet insurance, & the number of pets. Throughout my research, unsurprisingly, as the dates got earlier, it became more difficult to verify the incidences. Additional information: I could not confirm that the panther that attacked Frank Harmes was an actual escaped captive animal. This incident was a tragedy entirely due to human error. For example, just the illegal wildlife business including both dead and live animals is estimated to be between $10 - 20 billion a year. I could not find any remnants of reports for the incidences that occurred in 1990, of which there were 4, compared to 2004's 20 attacks. Tiger attack victims deal with this. Collectively, domesticated dogs caused the deaths of more humans last year (2014) than all exotic cats have in 25 years. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. I was very, very lenient with adding incidences to the list. Everett Cremeans, 45, had removed a bar that held the cage gate in place and was using it to prod the animal when he was mauled Tuesday. There are 'exotic pet incident' lists by PETA, Born Free, and the popular Florida-based Big Cat Rescue but some do not separate fatalities from injuries and often include ‘incidences’ that didn’t involve any injurious attacks. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 02, 2016: L Haas read the title, this article isn't about that. New York, Various lizards, snakes, and turtles are bought on a daily basis. Animal Intervention . The tiger had been used in the operation’s traveling animal show and featured in Shrine circuses. The territorial instincts of animals that are not used to human interaction took over and she was killed. A lock out cage used to separate the animals from the main enclosure was accidentally left open and the director has stated that the lion likely broke her neck in its excitement greeting her. I could not find any information about the 1997 Oregon woman so I just assumed she was not involved with the animal. In the U.S., USGE shipped mammals, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, and other animals to pet … Also, smaller reports on animal attacks are more readily accessible when they are domestic. The Canine Research Council has this to say about dog bite-related fatalities: "Dog bite-related fatalities are extremely rare. The exotic pet industry involves well over 1,000 species including invertebrates, fi shes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals in a global market of many millions of animals annually. James Eller is the brother of the two women. Even though there are millions of dogs compared to the thousands of big cats in the U.S., take into consideration that around 80% of owned dogs weigh under 40 pounds, while 100% of big cats weigh 70+ pounds (starting with cheetahs, even though they aren't technically big cats). The fact that we … ), List and description of all fatal attacks, and commentary. The CDC states that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and one in five dog bites results in injuries serious enough to require medical attention. Cheetahs and other exotic cats not considered 'big cats' are substantially less dangerous. After the accident was investigated, The Fresno County Sheriff, USDA, California Fish and Wildlife and OSHA all came to the same conclusion- Dianna Hanson left the guillotine door open and made a horrible human error. Caring for exotics can be challenging and expensive. That is very false. Of course, as I said earlier, there are probably unreported injuries. During the autopsy, a coroner found that the man had suffered numerous puncture wounds and a broken neck. Read the following FAQs to learn more about the exotic pet … Dog and exotic cat fatalities and injuries are rare. First I used Big Cat Rescue's list, then I examined PETA's 'Big Cat Incident List' compilation and found around ten injuries that weren't on Big Cat Rescue's document. Did he run in to her? Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 02, 2015: PSWendy-- The Daily Mail article makes it sound like the lion did force the door open, but because it was not secured all the way. GoFigure takes a look at lions, tigers, bears and other wild animals kept as pets. The tiger in this incident was underweight and poorly cared for, although the body wasn't consumed. Fatalities are highly unlikely to not be reported, so they provide more nutritive information when comparing their occurrences by year. animals who are treated wrong will show you wrong. In addition to the possible harm that could be done to these wild animals kept in private homes, the lions and tigers and other "exotics" also pose danger to humans. The ecological impact of the exotic pet trade. Impulse buying risks people not doing their homework. The tiger was used for photo ops, motion pictures and advertisements. Millions of wild animals, including reptiles, large felines, nonhuman primates, and others, are kept in … Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. Securing this information of attacks from any non-domesticated feline over a 25 year span out of all 50 states, despite the fact that I have little doubt that many less severe incidences went unreported, is highly revealing about the threat that captive big cats pose towards the public when they are maintained under traditional 'dangerous animal' standards. People who break the rules of interaction with big cats, such as visitors and volunteers sticking hands in cages, constitute a significant portion of the list. Some of this trade is legal, but many times animals are captured from the wild illegally to supply demand for exotic pets. Sheriff Dane Mastin said Eller tried in vain to get the tiger off the boy, then ran and got his gun and shot the tiger to death. Hanson was the victim of an occupational hazard and human error. All zoos that are accredited by the AZA are also USDA licensed. set loose his menagerie of lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and other animals, Captive-Bred Wildlife Registration Program, 10 Deadly Diseases That Hopped Across Species, Scientists just mapped 1 million new galaxies, in 300 hours, Black holes may not exist, but fuzzballs might, wild theory suggests. Based on the trend line, it appears that the injury rates, based on the information recorded, have increased from the early 90's to the mid 00's and then decreased around 2005-2014. Because the family's dog was allowed free access to a tiger and a 10-year-old was working so closely to the animal, it can be assumed that the family keeping the tiger underestimated the danger involved. Of this number, 89 occurred in zoos, and 50 of these zoos were or are AZA accredited. "In 2001, a leopard attacked a child at a birthday party, and Ms. Oltz got probation.". Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on July 27, 2016: Joe Exotic: I believe that statement was taken from the words of one of your employees. We already know that attacks are rare to begin with, particularly if you aren't getting in the cage with a big cat or sticking your hand in, but how rare are incidences of escaped cats causing injuries or fatalities? We don't know. Elephant. She was visiting her son who worked there and had gone to feed the animals, which she reportedly had done before. Responsible pet ownership is key to prevention. The importance of sturdy, well-made cages that adhere to the appropriate regulations and the use of staff or owners who are of the appropriate age to be the only individuals working with or maintaining large exotic felines cannot be underestimated. Global Exotics resulted in a raid of the dealer’s Arlington, Texas, … Cats attack instinctively to a smaller person running away from them - just look at domesticated kittens in the household. Photo via Flickr Charles Barilleaux CC By 2.0. While attacks by well-socialized animals are uncommon the risk to people who do not live with animal is too high. Of course, the 'exotic… © Dianna was a good keeper and just made a mistake. No uninvolved person has been killed by an escaped exotic cat in the last 25 years, and this time span probably extends much further. August 18, 2005, Mound Valley, KS: (AP) A Siberian tiger attacked and killed a teenage girl (Haley R. Hilderbrand) who was posing for photos at a family-run animal facility (exotic pet owner business) called Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary. The booming business in exotic pets is known as the exotic pet trade. (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA)) Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet … The incident happened Tuesday (Oct. 18) when resident Terry Thompson set loose his menagerie of lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and other animals from their cages before committing suicide. Margaret Davis King was homeless and mentally ill, suffering from religious delusions. Another case documented by Born Free involved a 37-year-old man who contracted the fungal disease blastomycosis after being bitten by his pet kinkajou, a rain-forest mammal. Let's say that 80 million people own dogs. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 03, 2015: Unfortunately much of the information here will not be 100% accurate because the news media is notorious for getting things wrong. Dogs are also more likely to cause injury because they are traditionally less confined and allowed access to children (the most common victims), but unless there are prospects for big cat owners to start treating lions like pomeranians in the future, this is irrelevant. We can provide links to articles that verify that this accident was caused solely by keeper error. Inside Edition filmed an employee of G.W. And apparently Ohio is one state that doesn't regulate or restrict keeping wildlife captive. (Fun fact, Big Cat Rescue, under the name Wildlife on Easy Street, appears on the list twice). But wild cats are dangerous and you are prey to them. Anyone who does not knowingly visit places where exotic cats are being held has an almost non-existent, but not impossible, chance of being mauled by one. It's a $15 billion dollar business in the United States alone, with breeders and dealers selling animals over the Internet or in trade magazines. Problems with inaccuracies also existed for both lists. They should never be domestic pets. Unfortunately, many consumers remain unaware of the origins of exotic pets, how the exotic pet trade affects wild populations, and how to care for exotic pets. Exotic Pets Many people appreciate the mystic and beauty of exotic animals such as reptiles, amphibians, birds or mammals of non-native species or individuals of native species that have been raised in captivity. I also wanted to add~ When we feed the cats, we do not have direct contact but feed them in a "lock-out" system, never coming into contact with the cats. Why shouldn't these animals be raised by humans in a controlled and much smaller area than they naturally should be. Turning your back on a big cat is a fatal error. December 14,2003 Millers Creek, NC: Ruth Bynum’s 400-pound Bengal tiger fatally mauled her 10-year-old nephew, Clayton James Eller, after pulling him under a fence and into his cage, authorities said. The total number of pets … Here is some interesting perspective on the exotic cat injury numbers. All the same criteria applies, with possibly the exception of neutering and licensing (big cats should be registered with their prospective states). Exotic cat incidences compared to domesticated dogs. Animal Intervention was a show on the National Geographic channel that opportunistically added to anti-exotic pet hysteria. At the time, USGE was one of the nation’s largest sellers of exotic animals to distributors and pet stores around the world. The three victims were possibly intoxicated and/or high on marijuana and possibly were taunting the tiger, prompting it to climb out of its enclosure and pursue them. ", "A pet serval was turned in, no questions asked, at an exotic pet amnesty day sponsored by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. I saw Born Free. Many incidences took place at now defunct road size zoos, exhibitor facilities, and pet owners with questionable practices. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. And astronomers are excited. What we should do: Appropriately-designed regulations can make rare big cat attack incidences even rarer. Thank you Melissa~ There were many errors in the initial media reports. Injuries to humans may be relatively common, but reported yearly deaths due to exotic pet ownership are rare. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. When you say attacked, it sounds gruesome, but it sounds like he just knocked her down and broke her neck.". We did an interview with Piers Morgan to show how the door operates after the accident. Ghostly circles in the sky can't be explained. Big cats are inherently dangerous but that doesn't mean they can't be maintained safely and responsibly in a captive environment. It can, has, and is being done for conservation, personal pleasure and educational reasons, but many of the best caretakers generally turn themselves into 'sanctuaries' in order to avoid falling victim to exotic animal bans. Included are even casual statements from individuals (ex. White tiger shows off teeth. Another incident of a private owner entering the enclosure, the animal was probably agitated as the owner was trying to get it to move. Contrary to the popular misconception that rearing exotic animals in captivity or keeping wild animals as pets is the answer to protecting endangered species, the exotic pet … The friend was severely injured when he tried to stop the attack. "How and why he [Cous Cous] did that is kind of a mystery," Anderson said. Thank you. How well a big cat works with humans is often dependent on the individual personalities of the animals. Another keeper tried to help, but things got only worse. Given the inherent danger of big cats (NOT small to medium-sized cats and cheetahs), this is surprising. The handler died within minutes from loss of blood. Hi Melissa~ I work with Dale at Project Survival and am sending you the links to the correct reports. By some estimates, a yearly average of 3.5 people die from exotic animal attacks. The trade in and keeping of exotic pets has been frequently criticized for the commonly inhumane and … News reports stated that fire crews have had a difficult time reaching the worker because there are several cats loose within the enclosure where Chapman was found dead. (Boston Globe) As the US pet ownership statisticsfor 2015report, every day more and more Americans are getting exotic animals as pets. The boy’s uncle, James Marshall Eller, heard Clayton scream and saw the tiger dragging the boy into its cage. The attack was quick and without warning, with an animal that was well-trained and human-socialized. It is unclear to me if the tiger was in the same cage as Lowe and his coworker, but it sounds like they had entered the cage to make repairs. In the last 25 years, (1990-2014), there has been, according to PETA and Big Cat Rescue's lists, approximately 260 exotic cat attacks that resulted in injuries that were probably severe or fatal. 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 press believed him because he was a governmental official and they were looking for anything to print. We will never know how or why she forgot to close the guillotine door to the lock-out before entering the main enclosure. Around 60 were private pet owners, and 33 were private exhibitors. Unsurprisingly, big cats are the most dangerous when being directly contacted instead of being confined to a cage. This animal severely mauled a zookeeper in 2005 which was not listed by Big Cat Rescue. Exotic animals can suffer further at the hands of dealers who sell to pet stores and zoos. It's hard to say because it depends on what you call a pet. March 31, 2003 Hennepin, IL: As William Olsen entered their pen to shift them to another enclosure, he was mauled to death by two tigers he kept in a backyard menagerie. The tiger put his paw on the man’s back, pushed him down, and bit his throat. In order to properly assess the risk that captive big cats—both private pets and those owned by zoological facilities—pose toward the public, all we need to do is examine the exotic feline-related incidences that have occurred in recent history. What's more concerning, PETA's list had another 11 year old victim, in a similar scenario, with a date that was one day away, only the child was attacked by a leopard. Even though there are millions of dogs compared to the thousands of big cats in the U.S., take into consideration that around 80% of … Big cats can (and have) eaten people. In the end, exotic pets are not safe to keep in people's homes, advocates say. WildCat Haven is the lifetime home for more than 60 neglected, abandoned, and abused captive-born wildcats. April 6, 2006, Duxbury (15 Mi. This accident occurred in a USDA-licensed facility, and the circumstances behind it are not clear. October 10, 2001 Lee County, TX: A 3-year-old boy was killed by one of three of a relative’s (Kerry Quinney) “pet” tigers as he was about to have his picture taken with the animals. There are approximately 70 million pet dogs and 74.1 million pet cats in the U.S. where 20 men and women are assaulted per minute (an average of around 10 million a year). Thank you. Globally, the pet trade exploits over 4,000 wild animal species. Similar bad parenting occurs when children are not supervised around domesticated dogs, which leads to injury and death. Wow,your article makes me want to raise a lion or tiger. 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