A New Jersey woman has been charged after shocking video surfaced last week showing her entering a tiger enclosure at a southern New Jersey zoo, police said.
The Bridgeton Police Department announced that 24-year-old Zaire J. Dennis of Millville was arrested and charged with trespassing and two violations of city ordinances after he climbed over a fence inside the zoo.
The incident happened on August 18 at Cohansic Zoo in Bridgeton, when Dennis was reportedly seen climbing over a wooden fence to get to the tigers.
In the video, she appears to reach out her hand towards the tiger before it attempts to bite her hand.
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Police say 24-year-old Zaire J. Dennis is accused of “luring” the tiger out by climbing over the fence of its enclosure at the Cohansic Zoo. (Bridgeton Police Department via Facebook)
The video then shows her running through the fence and leaving the enclosure, with the tiger roaming nearby after she leaves.
A sign posted outside the tiger enclosure read: “Do not climb over the fence. Climbing over zoo fences is a violation of City Ordinance 247-C.”
Dennis was also allegedly captured on camera entering a bear enclosure that same day.
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A sign posted at the tiger enclosure at Cohansic Zoo reads, “Do not climb over the fence. Climbing over zoo fences is a violation of City Ordinance 247-C.” (Bridgeton Police Department via Facebook)
An investigation was launched on August 20 after city officials notified police, saying they had received video from a zoo visitor who witnessed the incident.
Following the incident, Bridgeton Police took to social media to ask the public for help in identifying the woman.
“The female climbed over a wooden fence to lure the tiger out from the inner fence, nearly injuring him,” authorities said at the time.
Police say the video generated a great deal of interest and officers were able to quickly respond and identify Dennis.
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Police say Dennis is scheduled to appear in Bridgeton Municipal Court at a date to be determined.
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baer contributed to this report.
