A woman has been filmed sneaking into the lion enclosure at New York's Bronx Zoo, appearing to dance and taunt one of the male lions.
Footage of the bizarre incident was captured by a Bronx Zoo visitor on Saturday (local time). The zoo confirmed there were no injuries as a result of the woman's behaviour.
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Bronx Zoo has since released a statement to local media, saying it has a "zero-tolerance policy" for visitors who engage in "unlawful" acts.
"This action was a serious violation and unlawful trespass that could have resulted in serious injury or death. Barriers and rules are in place to keep visitors, staff and animals safe," said the zoo, according to ABC7.
The zoo is in the process of filing a criminal trespass report and is working closely with the NYPD [New York Police Department]. The woman's identity is currently unknown.
The bystander's videos of the incident have been widely circulated on social media, prompting intense backlash against the woman's behaviour. A number of Instagram users have called out the woman for "attention-seeking" and seeking social media fame.
"I'm sure she will post it on her Instagram and then they'll find her," one person speculated.
Others have lambasted the woman for her "disrespect" and "foolishness", citing the lion's possible death if it had attacked.
"If the lion would have [sic] done something, it would have been put down," another Instagram user commented.
Police have said a moat with a roughly 4.2-metre drop separated the woman from the male lion in the enclosure.
Newshub.
