After a growing trend of social media influences jumping into zoo animal enclosures state lawmakers are looking to enhance penalties.
Pennsylvaina law currently does not specifically address unauthorized entry into zoo animal enclosures.
Last year an Ohio social media influencer entered the Elephant enclosure at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
In effort to further provide a deterrence, a bill that would create the offense of entering the enclosure that if convicted would require restitution incurred by the facility, including animal recovery, veterinary care, emergency response, enclosure repair, and operational disruptions.
The bill was officially introduced in the state house Labor and Industry Committee.