Man Mauled At Zoo ‘Wanted To Be One’ With Tiger
September 22, 2012
A man who was mauled by a tiger at the Bronx Zoo is facing arrest after telling investigators he wanted “to be one” with the 400-pound beast, police said Saturday.
David Villalobos also claimed that despite his serious injuries, he was able to pet the tiger before zookeepers came to his rescue, said New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne.
Browne said that based on a complaint from the zoo and his own admissions, the hospitalized Villalobos would be arrested and charged with trespassing.
Police had said earlier that 25-year-old Villalobos admitted to a police officer making a conscious decision to jump from an elevated train into the animal’s den, but that his motives were unclear and an arrest uncertain.
That changed when, during an interview Saturday at the hospital, Villalobos told detectives that “his leap was definitely not a suicide attempt, but a desire to be one with the tiger,” Browne said.
The mauling happened Friday afternoon in the Wild Asia exhibit featuring a train with open sides that takes visitors over the Bronx River and through a forest, where they glide
I hope the animals were not injured just because some idiot wanted his 10 minutes of fame.
So, what happened to the Tigers? I mean, this clown jumps into their home and as seen as a threat to the cubs. Wouldn't you think mama or daddy would protect their own? They'd better not do anything to those tigers! That is all that jerk's fault! Jumping into a tiger enclosure…moron.
Lets hope he jumps into an alligator enclosure next time, they won't be so kind..
I hope they don't harm the tiger just because an idiot jumped in it's cage.
I'm with you Karen!!
Seems to me that the first lesson that you learn about big cats is to respect them and their strength and power. No sudden moves. EPIC FAIL ON BOTH COUNTS…AND I hope they don't hurt the tiger either…
wow 5 words dumb thing to do.
I hate it when stupid people do stupid things & jeapordize the safety of animals.
Because now they'll probably put the animal to sleep, and the idiot will sue and be awarded 5 million.