A 24-year-old woman from Millville, New Jersey has been charged with defiant trespassing after police accused her of climbing into a tiger enclosure at Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, New Jersey on August 18th. The incident was caught on video, showing the woman attempting to pet one of the Bengal tigers by putting her hand through the wire enclosure. The tiger exhibited agitated behavior, causing her to quickly move away. Police released the video, leading to the woman’s identification.
The woman also allegedly climbed into the bear enclosure at the zoo that same day. Cohanzick Zoo, established in 1934, is New Jersey’s oldest zoo and offers free admission. It is located about 50 miles from Atlantic City and houses two Bengal tigers, Rishi and Mahesha, who arrived at the zoo in January 2017.
Animal keeper Avery Menear explained that the tiger’s behaviors in the video were predatory and agitated. Police Chief Michael Galmari Sr. stated that videos and photos posted on social media led to the identification of the suspect. The woman will appear in court at a later date to face the charges of defiant trespassing and violating city ordinances prohibiting climbing fences at the zoo.
The incident has raised concerns about visitor safety at the zoo, as well as the welfare of the animals. Authorities are reminding the public to respect the boundaries and rules set in place at zoos and wildlife parks to ensure the safety of both visitors and animals.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com