Authorities are searching for a woman who was captured on video jumping a fence and provoking a tiger at a New Jersey zoo, nearly getting herself bitten as she inserted her hand into the animal's enclosure.

 

According to Cumberland County police in Bridgeton, the woman was visiting the Cohanzick Zoo, established in 1934 and known as New Jersey's first zoo, when she began to taunt the tiger.

 

The video shows the woman leaning dangerously close to the animal, one hand gripping the fence with her fingers poking through the mesh, while the tiger frantically paces on the other side of the barrier. At one point, the woman quickly steps back as the tiger leaps toward her. 

 

 

Eventually, she retreats and jumps back over the fence, leaving the frustrated tiger in its enclosure, as seen in the video.

 

Authorities have requested the public’s help in identifying the woman in the video. Anyone with information is asked to call 856-451-0033 ext. 0, or submit tips anonymously through the Bridgeton Police Department’s website.

A sign on the fence warns that climbing the tiger enclosure barrier is prohibited under city ordinances. It also states that the area is under 24-hour surveillance. The video shared by police lacks audio, so it is unclear if any words were exchanged during the incident.