Man injured from jumping into Bronx Zoo tiger den

NEW YORK -- Police said a man decided to jumped into a tiger's den at the Bronx Zoo, because he wanted to quote, "Be one with the animal.”

The 25-year-old was charged with trespassing. He jumped out of a monorail car into the tiger’s den Friday. 

He’s recovering from a broken right shoulder, broken rib, collapsed lung, broken ankle and broken pelvis.

Police say most of those injuries were caused by jumping from the rail car. 

“He was saying that it was not a suicide attempt, he wanted to be one with the tiger, “said NY Commissioner Ray Kelly. “It appears that he is fascinated with tigers. He took the monorail about a month and a half ago with his girlfriend. He was seriously injured of course, but the injuries appear to be mostly from the fall. It was about a 17-foot fall from the monorail.”

They said the tiger could have easily killed the man in a matter of minutes.