Woman Charged After Climbing Into Tiger Enclosure At New Jersey Zoo – After Entering A Bear’s Cage

A 24-year-old woman from Millville, New Jersey, faces charges of trespassing after climbing into a tiger enclosure at a local zoo.

The incident on August 18 at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton was captured on video and shared on social media. The video shows the woman reaching through the wire cage of the tiger exhibit, prompting a swift reaction from one of the 500-pound Bengal tigers housed inside.

Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Galmari Sr. said the department received numerous tips after posting images and video of the incident online, leading to the woman’s identification.

According to police, the suspect ignored the posted warning signs and scaled a wooden fence to access an area between the walkway and the animal cages. She approached the tiger cage and attempted to touch one of the animals through a gap in the wire mesh.

The video shows the tiger lunging toward the woman’s outstretched hand, causing her to recoil quickly. After the close call, the woman posed in front of the enclosure before climbing back over the fence.

Avery Menear, an animal keeper at the zoo, explained the tiger’s behavior to a local news station. “That back-and-forth movement is a pacing behavior. You can see his tail moving, which indicates agitation,” Menear said. “The paw raise and his reaction to her reaching out are all predatory behaviors.”

Police reports indicate this wasn’t an isolated incident. The woman allegedly engaged in similar behavior at the zoo’s bear enclosure on the same day, though details of that interaction were not immediately available.

In addition to the trespassing charge, the suspect is accused of violating two city ordinances prohibiting climbing fences within the zoo premises.

The woman’s name has not been released until formal charges are filed.