Man Mauled by Tiger at Bronx Zoo Charged With Trespassing

Sept. 22, 2012— -- A New York who was mauled by a tiger he wanted to be "one with" has been charged with trespassing for jumping into the 400-pound cat's Bronx Zoo enclosure.

On Friday, David Villalobos, 25, jumped 17 feet off an electric monorail ride and over an electric fence into the tiger den, suffering bite wounds on his arms, legs shoulders and back, as well as a broken ankle and arm after the tiger mauled him.

"He told NYPD detectives today that he voluntarily jumped yesterday from the monorail into the tiger preserve at the Bronx Zoo and that his leap was definitely not a suicide attempt, but a desire to be 'one with the tiger,'" Deputy Commissioner for Public Information Paul Browne told ABC News.

"When an NYPD sergeant asked Villalobos yesterday why had jumped into the tiger preserve, he replied that 'everyone in life makes choices,'"

Villalobos said today that he incurred most of his injuries in landing on all fours in the jump from the monorail. He recalled being dragged by the tiger by the foot, and afterwards being able to pet the tiger.

"No surprise he landed on all fours considering his passion for cats," Browne said.

Perhaps there was one consolation for Villalobos -- Browne said he told police that he did get to pet the tiger -- after the animal had dragged him by the ankle.

Villalobos, recovering from his injuries in Jacobi Medical Center, was issued a desk appearance ticket on a charge of criminal trespassing, requiring his presence in court at a later date, Browne said.

A former class mate told ABC News Villalobos had been displaying bizarre behavior.

"Recently I saw some of his stuff on Facebook and it just seemed a little strange," the class mate said.

Quick thinking rescuers at the zoo likely saved Villalobos' life. They used powerful fire hoses to distract Bachuta, an approximately 11-year-old, 400-pound, male Siberian tiger, and pull Villalobos to safety.

"Our emergency response staff immediately went to the site and used a CO2 fire extinguisher to move the tiger away from the person," the zoo said in a statement released Friday. "Once the tiger backed off, the man was instructed to roll under a hot wire to safety. The keepers were able to call the tiger into its off-exhibit holding area and safely secured the animal."

As of last night, Villalobos' condition has been upgraded to stable condition, according to officials from Jacobi Medical Center, where he is being treated.

Zoo director Jim Breheny told reporters Friday Villalobos was in the tiger area exposed to the tiger for approximately 10 minutes. He remained conscious and in the area receiving first aid after the tiger was secured.

"I think it's safe to say that if the tiger really wanted to do harm to this individual, he certainly would have had the time to do that," Breheny said. "We honestly think that we're providing a safe experience and this is just an extraordinary event. He made a deliberate effort to get over the fence. It's not by accident that this happened."

Asked if the man was emotionally disturbed, a police official said, "It certainly appears that way."

"The tiger was minding his own business," New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said, "up until the man cleared two sets of fences to get into the enclosure."

The tiger will remain on exhibit at the zoo. "This is the first incident of its kind. ... When someone is determined to do something harmful to themselves, it is very difficult to stop them," Brehny said.

ABC News' Courtney Condron and Michael S. James contributed to this report.