PITTSBURGH, PA — A 19-year-old Ohio man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he illegally entered an elephant enclosure at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium on Sept. 21.

According to KDKA, Noah Thomas jumped over a fence and into the restricted area, where he was seen interacting closely with an elephant. The incident was recorded and later posted to his Instagram account on September 22. In the post, Thomas described himself as a “professional gate jumper” and made light of the encounter.

The video shows Thomas inside the enclosure as the elephant approaches, rams a gate, and lifts its trunk. Investigators said the situation posed serious safety risks to Thomas, zoo staff, visitors, and the animal. Authorities noted the elephant could have caused fatal injuries had it mad

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