Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Updates: Man Jumped Into The Tiger Den At Bronx Zoo
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 21, 2012
Modified Sep 21, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 21, 2012
Modified Sep 21, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A man jumped into the tiger den at the Bronx Zoo this afternoon. According to FDNY, the incident happened before 4 p.m.; initial reports stated that an emotionally disturbed person jumped into the tiger exhibit (though a conflicting report says it was a lion den). "Someone jumped the gate at the bronx zoo n got maulled by a tiger now in jacobi ER.#lmfao," tweeted one witness.
Another person tweeted, "What idiot jumps in the tiger cage at the Bronx Zoo?" Three Amur tiger cubs made their debut at Tiger Mountain earlier this month. We'll update as we learn more information.
In 1987, an 11-year-old boy was fatally mauled by two polar bears in the Prospect Park Zoo. The boy had sneaked over a fence at night (the NY Times says he and friends were planning on wading there), and police officers shot and killed the bears.
Update: FDNY added that the victim was a man in his 20s, and he "reportedly jumped or fell into the tiger den" around 3:30 p.m. The victim is in "serious condition" at Jacobi Hospital now.
Update: Sources tell NBC that the victim lost his foot in the attack; other reports say the victim had a "severed leg."
Update: Sources tell DNAInfo that the victim was riding the monorail when he jumped out of his seat into into the tiger den. They add that the man's right foot and left leg were clawed, and his back was bitten, where a fang punctured his lung.
Below, you can see a video of the monorail (not the incident)—you can see a tiger at the :12 mark:
Update: Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny gave this statement about the incident:
A passenger on the Bronx Zoo’s Wild Asia Monorail jumped out of the car he was riding in, clearing the exhibit’s perimeter fence into a tiger exhibit around 3pm today. Our emergency response staff immediately went to the site and used a CO2 fire extinguisher to move the tiger away from the person. Once the tiger backed off, the man was instructed to roll under a hot wire to safety. The keepers were able to call the tiger into its off exhibit holding area and safely secured the animal. The man, about 25 years of age, conscious and talking, was taken to the hospital by ambulance. If not for the quick response by our staff and their ability to perform well in emergency situations, the outcome would have been very different.
Tagged
bronx
bronx zoo
feet
tiger
tiger den
tiger mountain
Tigers
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .