A woman caught on video trying to pet a Bengal tiger at the Cohanzick Zoo on August 18 has been identified and charged with one count of defiant trespassing after entering both tiger and bear enclosures.
According to the Bridgeton Police Department, Zyar J. Dennis, 24, jumped over a fence and approached the enclosure of the Bengal tiger – reaching out into the tiger’s cage, nearly getting bitten, but pulling her arm and hand out just in time as the animal became aggressive.
The Bengal is one of two at the zoo – Rishi and Mahesha were born in 2016 and donated to the New Jersey zoo from a zoo in North Carolina.
An investigation began on August 20, after employees from the zoo notified police that other visitors had witnessed the woman approaching the tiger. It is thought Dennis was trying to be photographed petting the wild and dangerous animals.
Another photo showed the woman at the bear enclosure trying to reach in and touch the bear.
Dennis is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
Why people can be so ignorant as to risk their lives and the lives of these wild animals for a photo or two is beyond reasonable thought.
Read the original coverage here. (Video included)
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I can’t understand WHY she did this but I am glad and grateful that no one was hurt or killed. I have been fortunate enough to go on safari and whale watching and observing penguins leaving the ocean to feed their young. In all of these experiences. I respected these animals and kept my distance. I hope no one else tries these stunts. We humans are not endangered species but many of these animals in zoos are endangered and should be respected. It would be tragic to lose any one of these animals due to human stupidity……. You can fix many things but you cannot fix stupid!!!
What color is the sky in this woman’s world?