A so-called "professional gate jumper" from Ohio jumped into an elephant enclosure at the Pittsburgh Zoo — and now he's jumping into legal trouble.
19-year-old Noah Thomas wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the elephants but video from late September shows Thomas climbing over a fence and stepping directly into their enclosure.
The video, which was posted on Instagram received more than 100 likes. It features the caption “Professional gate jumper, Almost elephant food.”
In the video, one elephant got a little too close for comfort, raising its trunk and ramming the gate as Thomas scrambled back out.
According to police, Thomas' stunt put zoo staff, animals, and himself in serious danger.
The Pittsburgh Zoo tells KDKA Radio in a statement, "Thank you for your inquiry, this matter is now in the hands of the Pittsburgh Police and the Allegheny County District Attorney's office."
He’s now facing felony charges, including trespassing, reckless endangerment, and cruelty to animals.