The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is facing serious criminal charges after a social media influencer was allowed to enter a cheetah enclosure in what authorities are calling a dangerous publicity stunt that violated multiple safety protocols.
According to court documents filed in Allegheny County, the zoo faces multiple misdemeanour counts related to the incident that occurred earlier this year. The charges stem from an investigation into how the influencer gained access to the restricted animal habitat.
Safety Protocols Breached
Investigators revealed that the influencer entered the cheetah enclosure without proper safety barriers or professional supervision, creating what wildlife experts describe as an extremely dangerous situation for both human and animal.
"This wasn't just a minor oversight - it was a complete breakdown of established safety procedures," said one official familiar with the case. "Zoos have strict protocols for a reason, and those were completely ignored here."
Animal Welfare Concerns
Wildlife conservation groups have expressed outrage at the incident, noting that such encounters can cause significant stress to captive animals and potentially trigger aggressive behaviour.
Cheetahs, while generally less aggressive than other big cats, are still powerful predators capable of causing serious injury. Zoo protocols typically require multiple safety measures, including physical barriers and trained staff presence during any human-animal interaction.
Legal Consequences
The criminal charges represent a rare instance of legal action against a major zoo for safety violations. If convicted, the zoo could face substantial fines and increased regulatory oversight.
The case has sparked broader discussions about social media influencers pushing boundaries for content and the responsibilities of institutions that enable such behaviour.
Zoo officials have declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings, but sources indicate internal reviews of safety procedures are underway.
