Security Changes At LA Zoo Unlikely After Woman Jumps Into Elephant Exhibit
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A security review is unlikely to yield any dramatic shifts in policy after a woman hopped through barriers to pet the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo, officials said Thursday.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports the bizarre incident has caught the eye of at least one local councilman.
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City Councilman Tom LaBonge discussed the breach with the zoo director to determine if any changes need to be made to park policy.
"They're reviewing everything, which is good to do, and I am going to visit the zoo to walk it myself and see actually what happened," LaBonge said.
The woman who entered the newly-renovated exhibit later said she has a mental illness and neglected to take her medication.
A zoo spokesman said they consider the trespass an isolated incident and are not planning any security changes at this time.
And while no charges were filed, LaBonge remained skeptical that any changes could prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
"Anywhere in the zoo you can climb a fence and jump in and maybe somebody will not want you in there," he said. "Not just the zoo staff but the animals, they're pretty strong on who comes in there or not."
