A chimpanzee named Ham became the first primate to go to space aboard the US MR-2 spacecraft.
A chimpanzee was observed for the first time making and using tools.
The first gorilla born in captivity, called Colo, was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The US launched the first monkey into space aboard a V2 sounding rocket.
Mike the Headless Chicken lost his head.
Balinese Tiger declared extinct.
The first panda arrived in the US from China.
The Tasmanian Tiger becomes extinct.
The first of four fatal shark attacks happened on New Jersey shores.
Passenger Pigeons become extinct.
Canada's last-ever sighting of the Eastern Cougar was found in Ontario.
The last Quagga dies in captivity at the Natura Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam.
P.T. Barnum purchased the world-famous circus elephant Jumbo.
The first Westminster dog show took place.
San Francisco's skies went dark after millions of birds flew across the city's western side.
The existence of the giant panda became known to the Western world after French Armand David received a giant panda's skin from a hunter.
The Great Auks go extinct.
During a thunderstorm in Charleston, South Carolina, the National Weather Service reported an alligator falling from the sky.
There were sightings of a giant sea serpent in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
