Would-be Tarzan allegedly tried to climb into monkey exhibit

Zoo director Kent Yamaguchi called 911 to explain the freaky scene, NBC Los Angeles reported.

“He climbed up into the tree and then proclaimed himself that he was ‘Tarzan, ‘ and that he was here just to have a good time”, Yamaguchi said.

He told them he was the fictional character Tarzan.

The man, who was apparently high on methamphetamine, claimed he was Tarzan and tried to crawl into a monkey exhibit, police corporal Anthony Bertagna told City News Service.

The animals were not disturbed, the station reported, despite Rodenborn’s attempts to break into a bird exhibit and later climbing through mud and up a tree to hang out with the monkeys.

Rodenborn was observed by zoo officials climbing a few trees before hiding behind some bamboo, Yamaguchi said.

“It looks like he may be trying to jump into the water”, Yamaguchi said.

Officers arrived and arrested the suspect, who they said was in possession of meth. Police believe he was under the influence of the drug at the time of the weird incident, the station reported.

Yamaguchi said: “He was covered with mud”. The tree neighbors the enclosure where the zoo’s monkeys are kept.

Rodenborn was arrested July 26 on suspicion of being under the influence of narcotics but was released from jail the next day, according to Orange County jail records.

Rodenborn reportedly ignored the zoo director’s request to get down.