In a shocking incident at the San Diego Zoo, a father was arrested after he decided to take his two-year-old daughter into the elephant enclosure for a photo op. The 25-year-old man, named Marco Gonzalez, reportedly climbed over several barriers to access the area where both Asian and African elephants reside. A witness captured the alarming moment when one of the elephants began to charge at them. In a desperate attempt to escape, Gonzalez threw his daughter through the fence and scrambled out just seconds before the elephant could reach him.
Witnesses described the scene, with one woman exclaiming, “We saw him jump the fence with his little girl. Everyone was yelling that the elephant was going to charge, and it did!” Her husband added that they were urging him to get out, and thankfully he turned just in time to avoid disaster.
Fortunately, both father and daughter, as well as the elephants, emerged unscathed. However, the incident visibly upset the elephants. Following his arrest, Gonzalez’s daughter was returned to her mother, according to Officer Sarah Lopez from the local police department.
Such unsafe behavior at zoos is not uncommon, with incidents occurring around the world. In a similar case from 2016, a child climbed into a gorilla enclosure, leading to tragic consequences for the animal involved.
Marco Gonzalez is currently being held on a $100,000 bail for child endangerment and is scheduled for arraignment soon.
Helpful Resources for Parenting and Safety
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- Mount Sinai’s Infertility Resources
- Cryobaby At-Home Insemination Kit
- Make a Mom – More informative articles on home insemination and related topics.
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In summary, a father’s reckless decision to enter an elephant enclosure with his toddler at the San Diego Zoo led to a tense situation, but fortunately, both escaped without harm. The incident raises concerns about safety and the responsibilities of parents while visiting animal habitats.