32-Year-Old Woman Charged For Trespassing And Harassing Bronx Zoo Lion

Two years ago, a woman charged for trespassing is currently on the wanted list for repeating the same act -- hopping into a barrier near the lion exhibit at New York's Bronx Zoo Thursday.

The woman in a red dress and leopard-print shawl was seen standing across a moat from a lion while trying to make a conversation with it, holding red roses and tossing money.

Police are now searching for the woman, Myah Autry, 32, who is identified to be the accused. The woman was charged for trespassing near the lion exhibit. In a blonde wig, the woman approached one of the lions by climbing the barrier near the lion's exhibit. She was also heard saying, "I missed him so much," as she threw money in the air.

The police are in the process of officially confirming the woman's identity. Still, they are determined that Autry was the one involved in the recent trespassing, as a witness pointed out Autry's Instagram post for wearing the same outfit as the accused on the day of the incident.

"This situation involves one individual who is determined to harass our lions with no regard for her safety, or the safety of our staff and our guests, and no regard for the well-being of the lions," a zoo spokesperson said in a statement. "The Bronx Zoo has a zero-tolerance policy in matters such as this and will aggressively seek prosecution against this individual and anyone who violates park safety rules."

Around 4:00 pm, the staff was notified about the trespasser entering the barrier set for public safety. According to the zoo, the incident lasted for a couple of minutes. The woman was said to have left even before the staff arrived on the scene. She is now being sought on a new trespassing charge.

The statement released by the Bronx Zoo also added that the situation was described as an act to harass the lions with no regard for anyone's safety, including herself.

Autry went viral in 2019 for entering the barrier near the lion exhibit. She told reporters at the time that she "wasn't fearing of the lion," firmly claiming that the animal adored her and that she was the lion reincarnate.

Going by the Instagram post shown by the witness, it appears that Autry may have been responsible for this week's stunt too.