An African-American woman was lucky to avoid injury after wandering into a New York City zoo enclosure and teasing a lion on Sept. 28.
A viral video posted on social media shows the female making dance moves within what appears to be pouncing distance of a fully grown lion at the Bronx Zoo, 14 miles northeast of downtown Manhattan.
According to Instagram user Real Sobrino, the woman climbed over the safety perimeter fence at the African Plains exhibit.
On another video, the woman can be seen waving her arms and pressing her palms together in front of her chest while facing the lion, which moved a few steps closer and kept gazing at her with great interest.
Although the woman continued to tease the lion, he did not attack and hesitated to come closer to her.
Sobrino suggested this could be because there was a small ravine, possibly electrically charged, separating the woman from the captive animal.
“I think they have to be power[ed] or something,” he said on Instagram. “If you see my picture she just stood on the rocks.”
Sobrino used the opportunity to take some photos and record some videos. He admitted he was also concerned for the woman’s safety.
“If the lion attacked her they have to sacrifice it,” he said on Instagram. “I was there for a few minutes, [it was] very difficult [to watch].”
Although neither the woman nor the lion were injured in the incident, a spokesperson confirmed a complaint has been made to the New York Police Department (NYPD) for criminal trespass.
Investigations continue.