:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(722x311:724x313)/woman-cohanzick-zoo-082124-1-78a6e9f8ddc64804b63f2fcb09327c52.jpg "Woman jumps over fence at New Jersey Zoo and tries to touch 500-pound Bengal tiger")
Woman jumps over fence at New Jersey Zoo and tries to touch 500-pound Bengal tiger
Police are searching for a woman who climbed over a fence in the tiger enclosure at the Cohanzick Zoo in New Jersey.
According to a Facebook post by Bridgeton Police, the woman climbed over a wooden fence and tried to touch a tiger, where she “almost got bitten.”
In footage released by authorities and shared by local media outlet News 12 New Jersey, the woman can be seen trying to lure the tiger, putting her hand through the wire mesh, whereupon the animal attempts to bite her hand.
The woman then quickly backed away before the Bengal tiger turned away.
The Facebook post shared by the police department also included a photo of a sign next to the zoo’s enclosure that read: “Do not climb over the fence. Climbing over zoo fences is a violation of City Ordinance 247-C.”
“We remind the public that it is against city ordinance to climb over fences while visiting the zoo,” the police department added in its statement.
According to News 12 New Jersey, the ordinance states that such actions may result in restrictions or a ban on the person from the zoo.
Bridgeton Police Department
“Providing quality care to the animals and the safety of our guests and visitors is our top priority,” John Medica, director of recreation and public affairs for the City of Bridgeton, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Any visitor behavior that places the animals, staff and public in a potentially dangerous situation is unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly.”
PEOPLE has contacted Bridgeton police and the Cohanzick Zoo for comment.
Bridgeton Police Department
According to the zoo’s website, the tiger is one of two Bengal tigers born in 2016. They were donated to the Cohanzick Zoo from a zoo in North Carolina.
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“A zoo in North Carolina generously donated the cubs to the Cohanzick Zoo in January 2017,” says the description of the tigers, which now weigh almost 227 kg.
According to the zoo, the Bengal tiger is the second largest tiger after the Siberian tiger.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Bridgeton Police at 856-451-0033 or submit anonymous tips to BPD.TIPS.
