Man seriously injured after jumping into tiger pen at Bronx Zoo

A man is in stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center after officials say he intentionally jumped into the tiger exhibit at the Bronx Zoo this afternoon. Authorities say the man jumped from the monorail

News 12 Staff

Sep 22, 2012, 1:32 PM

Updated 4,238 days ago

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Man seriously injured after jumping into tiger pen at Bronx Zoo
A man is in stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center after officials say he intentionally jumped into the tiger exhibit at the Bronx Zoo this afternoon.
Authorities say the man jumped from the monorail into the tiger pen 17 feet below, where an 11-year-old, 400-pound Siberian tiger, named Bachueta, was alone in the pen.
Zoo officials say the tiger left the man, identified by sources as 25-year-old David Villalobos, of Putnam County, with puncture wounds. He did not lose his leg as was earlier reported.
Officials say that Villalobos was alone with the tiger for about 10 minutes until zookeepers could attend to him and secure the tiger.
The tiger is currently being held in a holding pen but will be released back into the exhibit at some point, according to zoo officials.
To watch news conference on The Bronx Zoo tiger attack, click on News 12 Extra on Optimum TV channel 612.
Friends: Tiger attack victim is a good, spiritual guyEx-zoo monorail conductor: No way to stop jumpers
News 12 Traffic and Weather reporter John McLaughlin used to drive the monorail at the Bronx Zoo.Here are some pictures he shared with News 12.


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