FRESNO (KMJ) — A man is facing trespassing charges after police said he broke into Fresno Chaffee Zoo and was bitten by a lion.
Officers were called to the site around 11pm Wednesday after site security allegedly caught the suspect climbing the side of the enclosure.
The man was identified as 38 year old Julio Mendez.
“Mendez said he was being chased by an unidentified black male adult and ran through the zoo to get away,” detailed Lieutenant Mark Hudson.
“Zoo security heard yelling and found Mendez climbing the fence of the lion enclosure. Mendez somehow made his way into the lion exhibit and began climbing the netting surrounding the enclosure.
“As he climbing the netting one of the lions jumped up and bit him on the left big toe.”
Lieutenant Hudson said Mendez was arrested and cited for trespassing, before being taken to the hospital for treatment. The person he told officers was chasing him was not found.
“I believe he was under the influence, or felt to be under the influence.”
Fresno Chaffee Zoo told KMJ News that staff are pleased the security in place worked as intended.
“The human is OK, the animal is OK, and so that’s what we care about,” explained the facility’s Alisha Anderson.
“I’m happy that we have all the precautions that we have because I think our safety system maybe saved two lives.”
Of the lions on exhibit at the time of the incident, it is unknown which one allegedly bit the suspect. Zoo staff said that it was likely a female lion or a young male as the mane was not visible through the darkness.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
