Photo: Kelli McClintock/Unsplash

TLDR: A 19-year-old posted a TikTok video featuring him doing a backflip in a rhinoceros enclosure at the Singapore Zoo. He was charged with criminal trespass in connection with this incident. In addition, he faces other charges for mischief and vandalism allegedly committed on unrelated occasions.

More thoughts: Lots of people these days do crazy, dangerous or downright illegal things to get views and likes on social media. The downside of Instagram or Tik Tok notoriety is that fame makes you easy to track down.

In this case, it is not just dangerous to mess with wildlife, but illegal to trespass on private property. You commit the offence of criminal trespass when you enter someone else’s property with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy them.

This offence is punishable with up to 3 months’ jail and/or $1,500 fine.

Note also that his friend who recorded the video was given a stern warning for abetting criminal trespass, which itself is an offence.