A woman visiting New York’s Bronx Zoo Thursday climbed over the barrier near the lion exhibit and exclaimed, “King, I love you, I came back for you,” according to witnesses.
This is the second time in about two years that a woman has gotten close to the exhibit.
At about 4 p.m., “staff were notified that a woman had stepped over a public barrier near the lion exhibit,” the zoo said in a statement. “The incident lasted only a couple of minutes and the woman was gone when staff arrived on scene.”
Zoo officials said they plan to press criminal trespass charges if the woman is identified.
“This situation involves one individual who is determined to harass our lions with no regard for her safety, or the safety of our staff and our guests, and no regard for the well-being of the lions,” said an updated statement from the zoo.
