# On The Mixing Of Local Wildlife And Exotic Animals In Captivity (better explained on OP) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-mixing-of-local-wildlife-and-exotic-animals-in-captivity-better-explained-on-op/1000587 "2024-04-21T18:21:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-mixing-of-local-wildlife-and-exotic-animals-in-captivity-better-explained-on-op/1000587/1 "2024-04-21T18:21:32Z")
Here in the US, there are places where predatory, carnivorous/omnivorous animals that aren’t native to the area are kept in captivity: zoos, unethical animal habitats (think: Joe Exotic), quasi-ethical rescue animal habitats, etc. I’m sure that, from time to time, local wildlife (cats & dogs (pets and/or feral), small mammals like squirrels and such, various birds) accidentall meander in to their enclosures. If a pet/feral cat walked into a big-cat habitat, has she signed her own death warrant? Will the big critters ignore her because she’s so small and no their usual prey? Would a captive gorilla tear a pet/feral dog to shreds for the lulz? Are there any documented cases of a non-native carnivore/omnivore (great ape, big cat, etc.) killing/eating a local animal? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-mixing-of-local-wildlife-and-exotic-animals-in-captivity-better-explained-on-op/1000587/2 "2024-04-21T18:26:58Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Are there any documented cases of a non-native carnivore/omnivore (great ape, big cat, etc.) killing/eating a local animal? If you allow humans as being “local animals”… > **[Death of Maddox Derkosh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Maddox_Derkosh)** > > Maddox Lamar Derkosh was a two-year-old American boy killed in an animal attack after falling into an African wild dog exhibit at The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on November 4, 2012. The exhibit featured a special observation deck for viewing the dogs; Derkosh's mother, Elizabeth Derkosh, lifted her son up onto the railing of the exhibit for "a better view" despite numerous warning signs posted and barriers established. Maddox Derkosh slipped, falling 14 feet (4.3 m) from the railing, past a Th... ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-mixing-of-local-wildlife-and-exotic-animals-in-captivity-better-explained-on-op/1000587/3 "2024-04-21T18:30:29Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Are there any documented cases of a non-native carnivore/omnivore (great ape, big cat, etc.) killing/eating a local animal? Google found this one from 2011: > **[Caught in the Act! Zoo Leopard Eats Squirrel](https://people.com/pets/caught-in-the-act-zoo-leopard-eats-squirrel/)** > > A young boy reacts to seeing nature in action Warning: the page apparently has a video of the snow leopard, a native of Asia, attacking the squirrel. Article doesn’t say where this happened but the video description on YouTube places it at Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi, California, in 2011. Google also found plenty of reports for the opposite: local animals mauling zoo animals. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-mixing-of-local-wildlife-and-exotic-animals-in-captivity-better-explained-on-op/1000587/4 "2024-04-21T19:05:15Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Would a captive gorilla tear a pet/feral dog to shreds for the lulz? Maybe. But Koko the gorilla adopted kittens. So I suspect it would depend on the gorilla. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-mixing-of-local-wildlife-and-exotic-animals-in-captivity-better-explained-on-op/1000587/5 "2024-04-21T19:10:40Z")
I’ve seen videos of big cats reared with regular kittens or puppies and they become lifelong friends. But they all are young to begin with.