Brazilian zoo chaos: Man invades hippo pond, monkey cage
A zoo in Curitiba, Brazil, experienced an unusual incident when a man jumped into a pond with hippos. Reports indicate that the hippos were not aggressive towards the unexpected visitor, who also ventured into the monkey enclosure.
11:28 AM EST, November 24, 2024
An unusual event took place at the Brazilian zoo in Curitiba, in the state of Paraná. One of the visitors decided to jump into the pond where the hippos were located. Known for their unpredictability, the hippos, to everyone's surprise, did not react aggressively to the intruder's presence.
Footage of the incident, shared by tourists at the zoo, shows a man wearing a soccer jersey with the number 10 swimming in the pond next to the hippos. The animals observed him with apparent amazement. After some time, the man began shouting towards them and then ran towards the next animal enclosure.
According to Brazilian Radio Band, before jumping over the fence that separates humans from the animals, the man announced to a group of tourists that he intended to "play" with the monkeys. Indeed, the recording shows him approaching one of the monkeys and trying to interact with it. At one point, the monkey is seen jumping and moving closer to the intruder.
Intervention of zoo guards and police
Radio Band emphasized that although there was interaction between the man and the animals, there was no physical contact. Zoo guards managed to escort the intruder out of the animal area without any injuries. Subsequently, under police escort, the zoo visitor was taken to a local hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Footage of the incident quickly gained popularity. The event highlights the need to enhance security in public places, such as zoos, to prevent similar situations in the future. Although everything ended well in this case, the outcome could have been tragic.
During a visit to the zoo, it is imperative to follow the established rules and bans. These are meant to ensure the safety of both the animals and the zoo visitors.