A Woman Jumped Into A Lion’s Pit At The Memphis Zoo For The Most Ridiculous Reason

There’s a reason why lions aren’t usually part of a petting zoo: they’ll likely shred your body into little bloody bits, or simply swallow you whole without so much as a #kanyeshrug. For whatever reason, one Memphis Zoo patron didn’t quite get the memo that these felines are dangerous and should be viewed from a safe distance. In fact, she put herself in not one, but two, dicey situations while trying to get up close and personal with the cats.

During her first encounter, the woman hurled objects into the animals’ lair before being asked to leave the premises. Undeterred, she returned a second time and managed to hop a fence into the lion exhibit. According to a witness, she sang to them and tried to feed them cookies.

“Last week she was noticed by our security staff throwing objects into the lion exhibit; at that time she was asked to leave the zoo,” Memphis Zoo spokesperson Abbey Dane said.

Her second incident, hopping the fence and then singing to the animals, was this woman’s second incident. After the barrier, the only thing that separates a patron from the lions is wire.

“[She was singing] some song that was telling how much she missed them. It was bizarre,” witness Michelle Beasley. “I’ve never seen someone singing to a lion. It was really loud.”

Dane said the woman was trying to feed the lions cookies in both instances.

“She was coming back, and she crawled up on it again and was leaning forward,” Beasley said.

The Memphis Zoo has since banned the woman for life. In related news, she might be happy to know that Lion King turns 20 this week.

Via WMC Action News 5

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