A woman is in the hospital after breaking into a zoo early Sunday and getting too friendly with an elderly tiger.
Jacqueline Eide, 33, was allegedly intoxicated when she entered Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo before it opened intending to “pet a tiger,” according to the Omaha Police Department report. Officials believe Eide reached into the enclosure of Mai, a three-legged Malayan tiger and zoo favorite, who then bit her hand.
The 18-year-old big cat is a senior citizen, zoo officials say, and although Mai is quite friendly, she apparently isn’t a huge fan of people sticking their hands into her cage.
Omaha police weren’t actually alerted to the break-in until Eide showed up at the emergency room acting aggressively toward hospital staff. Staff told police she “showed signs of intoxication of alcohol and/or drugs,” and Eide was later cited for criminal trespassing and remains at the hospital for treatment.
Zoo officials say no action will be taken against the tiger, and Mai will “go on about life as usual.” It’s unclear whether Eide thought her adventure was a “very bad decision,” like the other person who decided to make 2015 a year to remember by petting very old and very large zoo cats.
