Jaguar Attacks Woman Who Climbed Zoo Barrier for Selfie

A woman was attacked by a jaguar at a zoo in Arizona on Saturday after crossing a barrier to get closer to the animal for a selfie. The cat reached out and gashed the woman’s arm, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital.

The Arizona Republic reports that the unidentified woman in her 30s was at the jaguar exhibit at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park when she put safety aside for a selfie. While standing right next to the jaguar enclosure, the cat reached through the cage and pinned the woman, piercing her arm with its claw.

Other zoo visitors managed to distract the jaguar with a water bottle enough to allow the woman to be pulled away from the cage.

The Arizona Republic published this graphic video showing the aftermath of the incident (warning: very deep and disturbing gashes can be seen on the woman’s arm):

The woman arm wounds caused excruciating pain, but all of her injuries were non-life-threatening.

Back in 2016, the 17-year-old gorilla Harambe was shot and killed by zoo officials after a 3-year-old boy climbed into its enclosure. After this latest jaguar incident, people immediately began raising concerns about the fate of the jaguar, but the zoo responded quickly to quell those fears.

Please understand why barriers are put in place. Sending prayers to the family tonight. pic.twitter.com/2MPb8bXhwR

— Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (@ZooWildlife) March 10, 2019

She won’t be put down.

— Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (@ZooWildlife) March 10, 2019

We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar. She’s a wild animal and there were proper barriers in place to keep our guests safe- not a wild animals fault when barriers are crossed. Still sending prayers to her and her family.

— Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (@ZooWildlife) March 10, 2019

“We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar,” the zoo writes. “She’s a wild animal and there were proper barriers in place to keep our guests safe — not a wild animals fault when barriers are crossed.”