Woman nearly bitten by tiger after climbing over fence at New Jersey zoo

Police are looking for a woman who climbed over a barrier surrounding a tiger enclosure at a zoo in New Jersey, before approaching the big cats and putting a hand through a metal fence, narrowly avoiding being bitten.

Bridgeton Police Department said it wanted to speak to the woman, after video footage emerged of her inside the enclosure at Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton. The department released the footage on Tuesday, but it is unclear when the incident took place.

“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,” police said in a statement on Facebook. “We are asking if anyone recognizes the female in the video/photo.”

The video shows the woman climbing over a wooden fence designed to keep visitors away from the tigers, before going right up the tall metal fence and placing her hand through a small gap, in an apparent attempt to pet the enormous animal.

The tiger quickly moves its jaws toward her, forcing her to swiftly remove her hand and step away. She then stops and poses, as if someone else is taking a photograph, before back climbing over the wooden enclosure.

Bridgeton police added: “Reminder to the public when visiting the zoo that it is against City Ordinance to climb over any fence.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Ptlm. Cusano at 856-451-0033 ext. 0, or send anonymous tips to BPD.TIPS.

The incident is similar to one at the Bronx Zoo in New York in 2019, when a woman climbed into the lion enclosure and stood feet away from one of them, appearing to taunt it.