A man has been arrested after intruding into the enclosure of famed pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo on Tuesday evening.
It happened at about 5pm at the zoo in Si Racha district of Chon Buri.
CCTV footage shows the man, identified only as a Thai national, climbing into the enclosure housing Moo Deng and her mother Jona. He is seen holding a tablet and taking pictures of the animals before climbing the fence again to leave the area.
Zoo management said the man was able to slip by staff who were busy performing cleaning duties.
“Fortunately, he did not get bitten,” Autthapol “Benz” Nundee, Moo Deng’s keeper, said in a Facebook post.
“Just because I can get inside the pool does not mean everyone can do the same," Mr Autthapol warned. “Hippopotami can be aggressive to people they are not familiar with.”
The man has been taken into custody and will be prosecuted.
Visitors are urged to follow zoo rules for everyone’s safety.
