Man Tries to Enter Lions' Den at National Zoo

PHOTO of Luke, adult male lion at National Zoo, courtesy of National Zoo

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A man tried to get into the National Zoo’s Great Cats Exhibit earlier this week, according to a Zoo spokeswoman.

The exhibit is home to the Zoo’s collections of African lions (two adult females, one adult male and six cubs) and three Sumatran tigers. Typically, they are on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Zoo features a live “Lioncam,” which broadcasts a live feed from the area.

On Wednesday afternoon around 4:15 p.m., National Zoo Police responded to a report of a man attempting to climb over the barrier at the Great Cats exhibit, the spokeswoman said.

They detained him, and it became clear that he may have needed a psychiatric evaluation, according to the Zoo. The Metropolitan D.C. Police Department was contacted and they transported him to the psychiatric emergency facility downtown for evaluation, the Zoo said.

PHOTO of Luke, adult male lion at National Zoo, courtesy of National Zoo