‘I didn’t do anything wrong’: Texas woman who fed zoo monkey Hot Cheetos speaks out
Over a year ago in May 2021, a Texas woman was filmed jumping into a spider monkey enclosure at the El Paso Zoo and allegedly feeding two of the animals Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. She recently spoke out, revealing she didn’t see what she did wrong.
The video of Elizabeth Luz Rae went viral and led to an outcry of animal abuse claims and trespassing. Rae was later arrested and charged with criminal trespassing days later. She was also fired from her law firm at the time.
In an interview with ABC-7 on Monday, May 16, Rae said she “was shocked that someone had recorded it and shocked that it went viral.” Rae did not disclose why she went into the enclosure. She now faces a pending criminal trespass case.
“Well, I don’t think I did anything wrong. I didn’t do anything wrong. I did not hurt anyone,” Rae told ABC-7.
Rae was joined in the interview with her new boss, attorney Mark T. Davis, who also agreed that Rae didn’t commit a crime. Both Rae and Davis said they don’t think it would be possible to harm the monkeys by giving them one Cheeto.
“No animal was ever abused,” Davis said, adding there are several videos online which show zoo guests tossing popcorn or even beer to monkeys and apes.
Rae also argued the monkeys were not affected by her presence in their enclosure, saying the monkeys were “extremely excited” to see her. However, Zoo officials disagree with Rae’s claim.
“I can see how people would look at it and see a monkey making noise and jumping around, and that’s really cute and fun, but the people who know those monkeys know they were actually really upset,” chief veterinarian at the El Paso Zoo Dr. Victoria Milne told ABC-7 in response to hearing Rae’s claim.
The El Paso Police Department told ABC-7 that Rae’s case is still open, almost one year later. The El Paso Zoo said Rae isn’t banned from the facility as the case is still under litigation. Rae said she has no plans of apologizing to the zoo saying, “I learned just keep the Cheetos to myself. I can’t share.”
