Harrowing footage of a woman hopping the fence and coming face-to-face with a tiger at a New Jersey zoo has circulated online.
The visitor is now wanted by authorities after she made her way into the tiger enclosure seemingly with the intention of getting close to the big cat, almost undergoing a horrific accident in the process.
A video of the bizarre incident, which happened at Cohanzick Zoo, was shared on Facebook by the Bridgeton Police Department on Tuesday (20 August), with the post detailing that she climbed over a wooden fence to touch the predator and 'almost getting bit' while doing so.
Footage shows the woman trying to get the tiger to react by putting her hand through the wires which block the animal from getting out.
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The tiger sniffed it for a moment, before lunging at her and attempting to have a bite of the snack she was apparently offering up.
She then jolted back before the big cat turned away, holding still while looking away, then hopping back over the wooden fencing which is around four feet high.
The Facebook post from local authorities revealed a photo of a sign at the zoo near the tiger enclosure that said: "Do not climb over the fence. Climbing over any zoo fence is against city ordinance 247-C."
In the police department's statement following the incident, they said: "Reminder to the public when visiting the zoo that it is against City Ordinance to climb over any fence."
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Police later said in a statement: “A female at the Cohanzick Zoo went over the wooden fence at the tiger enclosure and began enticing the tiger almost getting bit by putting her hand through the wire enclosure.”
They shared the video on social media in the hope that someone would recognise her and send them anonymous tips through their official website.
According to local media outlet News 12 New Jersey, these actions would warrant a ban or restriction from the zoo.
John Medica, Director of Recreation and Public Affairs for the City of Bridgeton, told People in a statement: "Any visitor behaviour that places the animals, staff and members of the public in a potentially dangerous situation is unacceptable and will be addressed accordingly."
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Bridgeton is located 50 miles south of the state of Philadelphia, while Cohanzick Zoo opened in 1934, branding itself as the first zoo in New Jersey.
It now houses about 45 species of animals, including leopards, bears and mountain lions among others.
The zoo's website reveals that the tiger is one of two Bengal tigers that were born in 2016 and donated by another zoo in North Carolina in 2017.
LADbible Group has reached out to Bridgeton Police Department and Cohanzick Zoo for comment.
Joshua Nair