A 24-year-old woman from Millville, New Jersey, has been charged with defiant trespassing and city ordinance violations after a shocking incident at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton last week. The woman, identified as Zyair J. Dennis, was caught on video climbing over a wooden fence and entering a tiger enclosure on August 18.
In the video footage, Dennis can be seen reaching toward the tiger before the animal made an attempt to bite her hand. She quickly retreated back over the fence and left the enclosure, with the tiger pacing near the fence after her departure.
Signs posted outside the tiger enclosure clearly state that climbing over the fence is against city ordinance 247-C. Despite the warnings, Dennis was also captured on camera entering a bear enclosure on the same day.
City officials launched an investigation after receiving videos from zoo visitors who witnessed the incidents. The Bridgeton Police Department sought the public's help in identifying the woman, and thanks to the response from the community, Dennis was identified.
Dennis is scheduled to appear in Bridgeton Municipal Court at a later date to face the charges brought against her. The police department emphasized the importance of following zoo rules and regulations to ensure the safety of both visitors and animals.
