The woman who was filmed putting her arm into a tiger enclosure at a New Jersey zoo has been charged with taunting the dangerous predator.
Zyair Dennis, 24, of Millville, was charged with trespassing for the Aug. 18 incident at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton and received two citations for the general conduct of people climbing over the zoo’s fences, NJ.com reports. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
She was quickly identified as the intruder after Bridgeton police released video and photos of a suspect attempting to lure a Bengal tiger by putting her hand through a wire mesh, Police Chief Michael Gaimari said, according to NBC New York.
The video shows the big cat coming closer to get a closer look at the woman, then pouncing on her and striking her with its paw, causing her to yank her hand back.
You can see the woman calmly walking away after this near-accident and jumping over the fence back to safety.
Zyair Dennis, 24, of Millville has been identified as the woman who was filmed putting her arm into a tiger enclosure at a New Jersey zoo
Gaimari has now explained that there is a similar video of her that shows her at a nearby bear enclosure on the same day – even though there were signs posted throughout the zoo advising people that climbing over fences is prohibited.
NJ.com reports that Dennis was released pending a hearing in municipal court.
It is unclear whether she has hired an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
However, zoo officials said they are also investigating the incident.
“The Cohanzick Zoo is reviewing measures related to the safety of our animals and visitors,” officials said Monday.
The nearly 650-pound cat was born in 2016 and donated to the Cohanzick Zoo in North Carolina
“These actions include a review involving the USDA and NJ Fish Wildlife, as well as communication with larger zoos to evaluate and/or adopt industry best practices.”
“Despite current safety precautions, we are continually evaluating ways to improve the safety of animals as well as the safety of our visitors and guests,” they said.
The nearly 650-pound tiger that nearly bit Dennis was born in 2016 and donated to the Cohanzick Zoo in North Carolina, zoo officials said.
It is one of two brothers currently living in the enclosure.
According to the zoo, the Bengal tiger is the second largest tiger after the Siberian tiger.
