Until recently, David Villalobos was just another 25-year-old former real estate salesman living in Mahopac, New York. But after strange recent behavior on Facebook, Villalobos became a media sensation last week when he leaped from an elevated train into a tiger's enclosure at the Bronx Zoo.
When initially questioned by police, Villalobos simply said that "Everybody in life makes choices." He later admitted that he "wanted to be one with the tiger."
The occupant, a magnificent 400-pound Siberian tiger named Bachuta, could easily have killed Villalobos with a single bite. Zookeepers speaking on Bachuta's behalf pointed out that tigers typically kill with a bite to the back of the neck. Instead, Bachuta mauled Villalobos, leaving him with severe injuries on his arms, legs, shoulders and back.
Early reports were that Villalobos had lost a foot. This now seems not to be the case. It seems most likely that Villalobos broke his ankle and/or foot in the 17-foot leap from the elevated tram. Villalobos is currently in stable condition.
