Selfie: Is The Great Pic Worth Dying For?

Is a selfie really worth your life? If your answer is yes, think again!

Current Events
An Arizona woman learned that lesson the hard way when she ignored warning signs and crossed a DO NOT ENTER barrier at the Wildlife World Zoo last weekend just to get the perfect selfie — with a jaguar.

Well, needless to say, her big photo-op with the big cat did not go as planned.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman got so close to the jaguar cage that the wild animal was able to reach her with its claws and pin her against the bars. The only thing that saved the woman’s life was the quick thinking of another zoo visitor, who also climbed past the barrier and was able to distract the cat long enough for it to free its capture.

“The visitor sustained non-life threatening injuries to their arm from one of our female jaguars. At the request of the family, paramedics were called,” the zoo tweeted shortly after the accident. “Please understand why barriers are put in place. Sending prayers to the family tonight.”

Interestingly, the woman — who only wants to be identified as “Leanne” — initially apologized to the zoo for failing to heed the very clear warning to stay away from the wild animals. However, after giving it some thought (and possibly consulting an attorney), she has since changed her story and is reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit against the zoo.

“I never crossed the barrier. I was not trying to get a selfie. If I was trying to get a selfie, I think my injuries would be in a different place,” Leanne said. “I was never in the enclosure. I never passed the barrier, but I do admit to leaning over the barrier.”

The zoo attack is only the latest in hundreds of near-death or actual death experiences every year from people attempting to get the best selfie to post and brag about on social media. Several have been gravely injured or even killed from hanging off a cliff, jumping in front of a moving train, and more — all for the purpose of the selfie to die for. Too bad, for some, that term is literal.

As for the jaguar, Wildlife Zoo director Mickey Ollson said this is the second time the wild cat has attacked a parkgoer who crossed the barrier. However, since the attack was “not the animal’s fault,” she will not be euthanized.

OK WASSUP! covers Current Events:
Selfie nearly gets zoo-attendee killed!