Columbus Zoo guest takes 12-plus foot fall after climbing onto handrail during cheetah event

A Columbus Zoo & Aquarium guest took a 12-15 foot fall after climbing to the top a protective handrail during the Zoo’s Cheetah Run event, according to the Zoo.

The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium posted a statement to its Facebook page this afternoon regarding the fall, which occurred just after 12 p.m. today. The individual did not interact with any animals and was taken to a nearby hospital while awake and alert.

At approximately 12:10 p.m., during the introduction of the Zoo’s Cheetah Run—an event where resident cheetahs chase lures in front of an audience to display their speed—a member of the Columbus Zoo’s Wild Encounters team noted a visitor had crossed a protective barrier and climbed a tree in the Heart of Africa boardwalk, adjacent to the Watering Hole area where the Cheetah Run is held.

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The individual who climbed the tree was not the one who fell, however. Shortly after a Zoo employee made a safety announcement regarding the visitor in the tree, a different individual then climbed to the top of a 42-inch protective handrail on the elevated boardwalk, before falling 12-15 feet into a space that was not shared with the cheetahs nor any other animals.

Zoo emergency medical services responded immediately and the guest was transported to a nearby hospital “conscious and alert,” according to a Columbus Zoo representative .

“Adrienne, a female 3.5-years-old cheetah, was with her trainer in the Watering Hole when the incident occurred. Adrienne took notice of the guest, who was calling for help. However Adrienne, who shares a strong bond with her care team, stayed with her trainer and was immediately secured behind the scenes,” the Zoo’s statement reads. “This allowed Zoo staff and responding EMS teams access to assist the guest.”

All areas of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium are currently open.