No, The Lion At Bronx Zoo Couldn't Have Got Near The Woman Who Climbed In

The woman who climbed into the Bronx Zoo lion enclosure was in plenty of danger — but not from the lion.

The internet reacted in astonishment as a video of the ill-advised stunt went viral, apparently showing the guest dancing and taunting right in front of an adult male lion.

However, the reason the lion didn't eat her was because a dry concrete moat more than 20ft wide and 20ft deep separates them; the low angle of the cellphone video creates the optical illusion they are standing much closer, TooFab has learned.

Indeed the guests who are filming it stand there in mild bemusement at her antics rather than the screaming panic of a crowd about to watch a person get mauled to death; they in turn stand behind a four-foot wooden fence and a bit of shrubbery, knowing that if the lion could get to the woman, it could just as easily get to any guest in the park.

The only danger the woman was in was of falling into the moat. She also put the lion in danger, had her taunting prompted him to fall into the moat. On top of that, she put whatever zoo staff would have had to enter the moat to retrieve either or both in danger too.

The woman, who identifies herself as "Queen Empress Myáh Lareé Israelite" on Instagram, shared several videos of her encounter, where she appeared to credit God rather than the moat for keeping her safe.

"I REALLY HAVE NO FEAR OF NOTHING BREATHING‼️" she boasted. "I Literally Went in his Habbitat and He did not Growl or He didn't not go into Attack Mode‼️ Why? Like All things, Even Animals know if your acting out of Love & Fearlessness."

Her videos show her easily climbing over the small fence and walking just a few yards in front of the other guests.

"I Entered His Home in Peace & He let me Leave in Peace," she declared. MY SOUL IS PURE THIS IS WHY I MADE IT OUT."

She also claimed God changed the seasons while she was in there, as evidenced by the leaves changing color.

The zoo, for one, was not impressed with her stunt.

"This action was a serious violation and unlawful trespass that could have resulted in serious injury or death," it said.

"Barriers and rules are in place to keep both visitors, staff and animals safe. We have a zero tolerance policy on trespass and violation of barriers."

While a puma or mountain lion could jump 20ft from a standing start, the record set by its bigger African cousin is a little shy of 12ft. Also, adult lions are not nearly as good at climbing as their more svelte relatives.

According to the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums, outdoor cages for lions should have vertical jumpwalls at least 16ft high, or be provided with tops at least 10ft high.

"If moats are used as a barrier, they should be at least 25ft wide and 15ft deep," it advises.

The Bronx Zoo opened in 1899, and the lion exhibit has existed since 1940.

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