A Texas woman named Lucy was caught on camera climbing into a spider monkey exhibit at the El Paso Zoo to hand feed the animals Hot Cheetos.
Over the weekend, video showed Lucy jumping over a barrier and entering the exhibit. She fed two of the monkeys, Libby and Sunday, while standing near a waterfall in the enclosure. The zoo’s director called the situation “stupid and lucky.” The woman and the animals were reportedly not harmed.
Zookeepers say the stunt could have caused real problems. Mason, a zookeeper, told ABC7 that spider monkeys are powerful primates that can do substantial damage to a person. He and other zoo staff also said the monkeys could have been exposed to COVID-19, and that snacks made for humans can upset the animals’ stomachs.
Staff added that it takes years to build trust with the animals, and that a moment like this can undo a lot of that work.
Lucy has reportedly since lost her job as a litigation assistant. Her response was not included in the initial reports.
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