Mohammed Ali Khawaja: Sydney Zoo prankster in emu video

A prankster who jumped into a zoo aquarium had earlier been roaring at lions and throwing punches at a distressed emu.

Bizarre new details have emerged in the Sydney Zoo prankster saga, with the man charged over the viral video finally admitting to diving into the zoo aquarium and tormenting an emu.

Mohammed Ali Khawaja, 31, entered last-minute guilty pleas over his infamous antics at Sydney Zoo last July during a hearing disaster at Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.

The man approached the emu...

....before raising his fists and pretending to box with the animal.

The Peakhurst man gained widespread attention after a video of him diving into an aquarium at the Bungarribee zoo and swimming with exotic fish in his underwear went viral on TikTok.

Further video of him fighting an emu at the zoo’s Australiana exhibit has now emerged, which was also uploaded to social media.

The video, taken on the same day as the aquarium incident, shows Khawaja attempting to “shadow box” the emu while a friend films it on his phone.

“He (the emu) was staunching up, I’m telling you,” the narrator can be heard saying as Khawaja raises his fists to the bird and throws mock punches.

“The boys are here now … you wanna have a crack bra, I’m telling you.”

Clearly distressed, the emu promptly runs away from the men.

Video of Khawaja diving into the aquarium was similarly captured by a friend, who can be heard laughing in hysterics while saying “What the f*** is that” as Khawaja swims around the exhibit.

On a GoFundMe page, ‘Free Aqua Man’, set up by Khawaja to raise $30,000 to cover the cost of his legal fees, he gave an explanation for his antics.

Khawaja’s GoFundMe page to raise funds for his legal fees. Picture: Supplied

“With all the chaos going on in the world with COVID-19 and everyone being depressed, I simply wanted to put a smile on people’s faces and the rest is history,” he wrote.

“I had no intent to harm any animals as I’m an animal lover myself.”

Police documents reveal Khawaja and his three friends had come under notice at the zoo before the infamous incident, with staff telling them to stop roaring at lions shortly after their arrival at the zoo.

Khawaja was subsequently charged following a police investigation, but initially denied allegations of behaving offensively in public, entering inclosed lands and entering an animal enclosure.

Mohammed Khawaja was described himself as an “animal lover”. Picture: Instagram

He was excused from attending in person at yesterday’s long-awaited hearing, which had been held over due to him being stabbed in the buttocks and being unable to attend at an earlier date.

Two zookeepers were cross-examined before the hearing spectacularly fell over, with Khawaja’s defence lawyer seeking that it be terminated before changing the pleas to guilty.

“(He was) being a larrikin and it was in jest. Whilst there are arguable matters, it is accepted there is no point dragging this on any further,” the defence said.

A visibly unimpressed Magistrate Alex Mijovich told Khawaja to “have some common sense” before handing him a $500 fine.

Khawaja’s video swimming in the zoo aquarium went viral on TikTok. Picture: TikTok

Khawaja is seen swimming in his underwear with exotic fish. Picture: TikTok

“Clearly your friends thought it was amusing and you thought it was and you put your reasons on GoFundMe page,” he said during sentencing.

“Diving into an aquarium and shadow-boxing an emu, you may find it amusing, others may find it offensive.”

The third charge of entering an animal enclosure was withdrawn.

Khawaja’s GoFundMe page raised $1300.