New Jersey police are searching for a woman who tried to pet a giant Bengal tiger by climbing over the fence at the Cohanzick Zoo.
A special Facebook post from the Bridgeton Police Department (review: People) said an unidentified woman climbed over the wooden fence into the tiger enclosure and put her hand through the metal mesh, attracting the attention of a 220-pound Bengal tiger.
Heartbreaking images were obtained News 12 New Jersey It shows the tiger approaching the woman and suddenly lunging, almost biting her. After this, both the trespasser and the tiger quickly go their separate ways.
“Do not climb over the fence. Climbing over any zoo fence is against city ordinance 247-C,” the police department said in a statement. A similar message hangs on a sign near the tiger enclosure. News 12The regulation states that such an action could result in the guest being banned from entering the zoo.
“High quality care of the animals and the safety of our guests and visitors is our top priority,” said John Medica, City of Bridgeton Recreation and Public Relations Director. People “Any visitor behavior that puts animals, staff and the public in a potentially dangerous situation is unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly,” he vowed in a statement.
According to the Cohanzick Zoo's website, the tiger was one of two siblings donated by a North Carolina zoo in 2016. “The tigers were a very welcome sight approximately two years ago when the zoo lost the last of two white tigers that had roamed the enclosure for many years,” the website explains.
There were no reports of injuries to the tiger or the trespasser. Anyone with information on the identity of the woman is asked to contact the Bridgeton Police Department.