A terrifying video of a lady jumping the fence and coming face to face with a tiger at a New Jersey zoo has gone viral online.

Police are now looking for the visitor after she entered the tiger cage with the apparent purpose of getting close to the huge animal, nearly causing a horrible disaster in the process.

The Bridgeton Police Department released a video of the unusual occurrence at Cohanzick Zoo on Facebook on Tuesday (20 August), revealing how she climbed over a wooden barrier to touch the predator and ‘nearly got a bit’ while doing so.

The lady tries to get the tiger to react by placing her fingers through the wires that prevent the animal from escaping.

The tiger sniffed briefly before lunging at her and attempting to eat the snack she appeared to be providing.

She jolted back as the enormous cat turned away, remaining motionless while staring downward before leaping back over the wooden barrier around four feet high.

Local officials’ Facebook post included a photo of a notice at the zoo near the tiger cage that said, “Do not climb over the fence.” “Climbing over any zoo fence is against city ordinance 247-C.”

The police department confirmed the incident, reminding visitors to the zoo that climbing over fences is against city ordinance.

The police responded with the following statement: “A female at the Cohanzick Zoo went over the wooden fence at the tiger enclosure and began enticing the tiger, almost getting bit by putting her hand through the wire enclosure.”

They shared the footage on social media, hoping that someone would recognize her and provide anonymous information via their official website.

According to local news site News 12 New Jersey, these behaviors would result in a suspension or limitation from the zoo.

According to John Medica, Director of Recreation and Public Affairs for the City of Bridgeton, “Any visitor behavior that places the animals, staff, and members of the public in a potentially dangerous situation is unacceptable and will be addressed accordingly.”

Bridgeton is 50 miles south of Philadelphia, and the Cohanzick Zoo, which opened in 1934, claims to be New Jersey’s first.

It presently holds over 45 kinds of animals, including leopards, bears, and mountain lions.

According to the zoo’s website, the tiger is one of two Bengal tigers born in 2016 and donated by another zoo in North Carolina in 2017.