Man cited for jumping into rhino enclosure at zoo

[December 10, 2008]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A man who authorities say jumped into a black rhino enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo has been cited.

Neither the man, whose name has not been released, nor any animals were hurt in Monday's incident. But zoo officials say he was lucky the rhino did not go after him. The man was cited for violating a park code that restricts people from bothering zoo animals.

San Francisco's Animal Care and Control chief, Carl Friedman, said it's not clear why he entered the enclosure.

He apparently scaled a fence meant to keep humans out and then went over another metal fence.

The incident comes less than a year after a tiger escaped from its enclosure, killing a San Jose teen and mauling two others.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/

[Associated Press]

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