Police are searching for a woman who climbed over a fence surrounding a tiger enclosure at a New Jersey zoo, walked toward the big cats and stuck her hand through a metal gate, narrowly avoiding being bitten.
Bridgeton Police Department said it wanted to speak with the woman after video footage surfaced of her in the enclosure at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton. The department released the footage Tuesday, but it is unclear when the incident occurred.
“A female at the Cohanzick Zoo went over the wooden fence near the tiger enclosure and began to entice the tiger, nearly biting her by putting her hand through the mesh,” police said in a statement on Facebook. “We are asking if anyone recognizes the female in the video/photo.”
The video shows the woman climbing over a wooden fence that is supposed to keep visitors away from the tigers. She then climbs over the high metal fence and sticks her hand through a small opening. It looks like she wants to pet the enormous animal.
The tiger quickly moves its jaws towards her, forcing her to quickly remove her hand and step aside. She stops and poses, as if someone else is taking a photo, before climbing back over the wooden fence.
Bridgeton police added: “Reminder to the public visiting the zoo: It is against city ordinance to climb over a fence.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Ptlm. Cusano at 856-451-0033 ext. 0, or send anonymous tips to BPD.TIPS.
The incident is similar to one at New York’s Bronx Zoo in 2019, when a woman climbed into the lion enclosure and stood within feet of one of the lions, appearing to challenge him.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
