Bramnick Calls for Action on Bill to Penalize Zoo Trespassers

Today, Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21) called for the swift passage of sponsored legislation, S-581 to 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.

A recent video captured a woman nearly bitten by a tiger after jumping into a restricted area at a Bridgeton zoo.

“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. “This type of reckless behavior endangers the life of the trespasser and often results in law enforcement killing the animal.”

Senator Bramnick’s bill was inspired by a 2021 incident in Florida that resulted in a reckless zoo employee losing his arm and law enforcement taking a tiger’s life.