Millville woman charged after allegedly filmed climbing into enclosure at New Jersey zoo

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

A New Jersey woman has been charged with trespassing after being accused of illegally climbing into a zoo enclosure last week.

Zyair J. Dennis, 24, of Millville, is charged with trespassing and violating two city ordinances that prohibit climbing fences at the zoo – which is clearly marked on signs outside the enclosure.

According to police, she jumped over a fence on August 18 and entered a restricted area next to the tiger and bear enclosures at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton.

After Dennis climbed over the wooden fence holding two 500-pound Bengal tigers, she began to “lure” one of the tigers by putting her hand through the chain-link fence, according to police.

Last week, Bridgeton Police released a video of a woman who they believe is Dennis, almost being bitten by one of the big cats.

“This back and forth behavior that he was exhibiting is like pacing around. You can also see his tail wagging, and that is an excited behavior,” said zookeeper Avery Menear, describing 7-year-old Mahesha’s behavior. “As soon as she turned around, you can see on the video his paw went up, and when she reached for him, those are all predatory behaviors that he was exhibiting.”