New Jersey State Senator Jon Bramnick is urging for the swift passage of his bill, S-581, which seeks to impose stricter penalties on individuals who trespass into zoo enclosures. The call comes after a recent incident at the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, where a woman jumped into a tiger enclosure and was nearly bitten. The woman is currently facing charges of "defiant trespassing."
The proposed legislation would establish the criminal offense of trespassing into a zoo enclosure and set forth penalties and liability for any harm caused to a wild animal or property. Violators could face charges of a disorderly persons offense, with fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 and prison terms from six months to five years, depending on whether an animal is injured or killed.
“We need to pass this bipartisan bill to ensure that people who trespass into restricted animal enclosures face legal and financial consequences,” said Sen. Bramnick to insidernj.com. He added that such reckless behavior not only endangers the life of the trespasser but often results in law enforcement having to kill the animal.
The bill was inspired by a 2021 incident in Florida where a zoo employee lost his arm, and a tiger was killed. If passed, the law could serve as a deterrent to potential trespassers and help prevent future incidents that put both humans and animals at risk.