Ohio Man Charged Over Pittsburgh Zoo Elephant Trespass

A 19-year-old Ohio man, identified as Noah Thomas of Austintown, jumped a fence and entered the elephant enclosure at the Pittsburgh Zoo in late September and posted video to his Instagram account justnoah.t with captions "Professional gate jumper" and "Almost elephant food." The clip shows an elephant charging, ramming the gate and reaching with its trunk as Thomas scrambled back out; police said about 25 patrons, including children, were in the barn and that he and a companion entered through a temporary exit without tickets. Thomas has been charged with multiple felonies — including causing or risking catastrophe, criminal trespass and conspiracy — and faces misdemeanors for reckless endangerment and cruelty to animals; an arrest warrant was issued for companion Adrianna Marsco. Authorities say the stunt endangered visitors, staff and the endangered elephant and that the video, which drew roughly 100 likes, appeared to be done for social media attention. Local criminal complaints and wide media coverage have followed, and court proceedings have not yet been scheduled.