EXCLUSIVE: DOZENS of animals disappeared from Melbourne zoos last year. Kangaroos, aardvarks, lizards and even pythons slipped free of their enclosures.
Teachers narrowly escaped being bitten by snakes and inquisitive children were roughed up by kangaroos and stalked by large birds, quarterly Animal Care reports revealed.
Data obtained under Freedom of Information showed 217 animals disappeared between January 2010 and September last year.
Of 78 recorded escapes in that period, only 66 animals were recovered.
Dozens of small creatures - such as reptiles and birds - escape without a trace and fearless staff are copping all sorts of bites and grazes in the line of duty.
Zoos Victoria CEO Jenny Gray said escapes were more common in enclosures where many animals were open to the public, such as walk-through aviaries.
Near misses included a giant tortoise pinning the arm of a keeper, and a customer bitten by a pelican.
Details of injuries to staff and visitors reveal zoo workers commonly suffer bites from pythons, bats and seals.
Ms Gray said an extensive incident reporting system had been established in 2005, which identified trends in animal care and training needs.
"We are constantly reviewing the training and development needs of our staff to make sure they and the animals are kept safe," she said.
Animal reports from 2005-11 about Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Royal Melbourne Zoo also revealed:
A ZEBRA died while being transported to Perth Zoo.
A BANDICOOT died when left behind in an experimental trap while others suffered bloodshot eyes because tagging collars were too tight.
A FUR seal being returned to the wild died inside a "pet-pack" on the way to the water's edge where it was to be set free.
A FLOCK of emus mauled to death six pademelons.
THE GREAT ESCAPES
* 92kg gorilla Yakini was seen wandering near the front entrance of Melbourne zoo in 2009.
* A Malayan tapir semanka pushed through faulty electric wiring at the zoo and was found wandering in a garden bed.
* A Little penguin repeatedly escaped its enclosure in early 2010 before the compound was modified.
* In 2011 a young giraffe at Werribee zoo was chased by a rhinoceros and ended up in the visitor centre.
* A Goodfellow's tree kangaroo and her joey escaped their Melbourne zoo compound after a palm tree was blown over.
* In Melbourne, a seal crept into a confined area outside its enclosure and attacked its keeper.
* A carpet python was left unattended in the Melbourne zoo presentation area after a keeper demonstration.
