Man Says He Petted Zoo Cougars After Calling ‘Here, Kitty’

A visitor at Ohio’s Columbus Zoo is in hot water with zoo personnel for getting a bit too friendly with some cougars.

“Yeah, I was an idiot for jump into the cougar exhibit, but my thing is, how easy it was to do”, Newell said. I jumped the barrier and showed them some love.

A voice then calls over to the cougars and says ‘Kitty, kitty, kitty, ‘ and ‘that’s a good kitty, ‘ as the animals are stroked.

Now, the 35-year-old has with a legal cat fight on his hands.

Columbus Zoo CEO Tom Stalf says in a statement that animal welfare and safety are top priorities. “We will take action”.

Thirty-five-year-old Joshua Newell of suburban Gahanna is set for arraignment Wednesday on a misdemeanor criminal trespassing charge.

Yet Newell treats the beasts more like house pets as he scratches behind their ears and speaks to them.

Newell has since expressed his regret over the footage. I was thinking I’m an animal lover. “I am concerned that other people will try it and that’s why I’m on camera to persuade them to not do it”.

Mr Newell said he was expecting a fine when he appears in court this week, but hoped he would not be banned from the zoo.