Police are looking to identify a woman who climbed over the fence of a Bengal tiger enclosure and dangerously enticed the tiger at a zoo in Bridgeton, New Jersey. She was ignorant of the dangers. She’s placed her hand on the wire fencing it sems to me. There have been cases of people doing this in violation of strict zoo policies to protect customers and captive tigers who’ve ended up suffering severe injury.
She apparently climbed over an outer perimeter fence behind which clients must remain and approached the actual wire enclosure and stirred up the tiger.
Separately, you can see how bored this tiger is. She/he is really excited at the interaction because not enough is happening in their enclosure. I feel sorry for the tiger and all captive animals.
The lady was lucky she came away without injury. If a person tries to pet or touch a tiger or other large wild cat through the fencing, they can suffer severe injury as mentioned. We can’t tell if she did this but I feel that she wanted to interact closely and even try and touch the tiger. This is understandable as tiger are amazing but you can’t do it applying rational thought.
There have been several incidents where zoo visitors, disregarding safety warnings, placed their hands on the wire enclosures of tigers, leading to serious consequences. In these cases, the visitors typically ignored barriers or signs meant to keep them at a safe distance, and reached through the fencing or placed their hands against it. The tigers, responding instinctively, bit the hands or arms of the individuals, causing severe injuries. These incidents highlight the dangers of underestimating wild animals, even in controlled environments like zoos, where animals still exhibit their natural predatory instincts. They also serve as reminders of the importance of adhering to safety guidelines to prevent such accidents.
One notable incident occurred in 2013 at the Delhi Zoo in India. A visitor, reportedly trying to take a closer look at a white tiger, placed his hand on the wire enclosure. The tiger grabbed the man’s arm through the bars and bit him, resulting in severe injuries. This incident was widely reported and sparked discussions about zoo safety and the need for visitors to respect boundaries designed to protect both them and the animals.
Another incident took place in 2006 at the San Francisco Zoo. A man reportedly reached through the wire fence of a tiger enclosure, attempting to pet the animal. The tiger grabbed the man’s arm and bit it, causing significant injuries. This event underscored the risks associated with disregarding safety barriers in zoos, emphasizing that even in captivity, tigers remain dangerous and unpredictable.
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