Jerusalem Zoo Worker Killed by Escaped Leopard During Behind-the-Scenes Tour

A senior zoo worker at Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo was killed on Friday morning after a leopard escaped its enclosure and attacked him during a behind-the-scenes tour for visitors.

The victim, identified as 36-year-old Uriel Nuri, was the head of the carnivores team at the zoo. He was critically injured in the attack and rushed to the trauma unit at Hadassah University Hospital-Ein Kerem, where medical staff fought to save his life.

Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, doctors were forced to declare him dead. “The hospital staff is accompanying his family at this difficult time and shares in their grief,” Hadassah Medical Center said in a statement.

According to the Biblical Zoo, the incident occurred during a routine activity to prepare the leopards for enrichment. This task formed part of a special behind-the-scenes visitor experience, which allowed guests to observe zookeepers at work from behind reinforced glass.

“At no point was there any physical danger to the visitors,” the zoo emphasized in its statement, noting that they were standing safely behind a protective barrier while the incident unfolded.

The leopard managed to escape into an inner courtyard where Nuri was working, attacking him before staff could respond. With assistance from the Israel Police, the zoo initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine how the animal was able to leave its secured enclosure.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that preliminary checks are focusing on whether a cage door became loose or was improperly secured. The zoo has temporarily closed to visitors while the investigation continues.

“Our pain is immense, and our hearts go out to Uriel’s family,” the zoo said, expressing shock at the first fatal incident of this nature at the 62-acre facility.

Nuri was well known among the zoo community and frequently shared videos of his work with big cats, including cheetahs and lions, on his Instagram page.

The Biblical Zoo, located in south-west Jerusalem, is renowned for housing animals mentioned in the Bible as well as endangered species from around the globe. Its collection of big cats includes tigers, lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

This is not the first serious incident at the zoo. Last year, a crocodile bit a staff member, leaving her with severe injuries that required hospitalization. That incident prompted the zoo to review staff safety protocols, though Friday’s fatality has reignited concerns about enclosure security and the risks faced by animal handlers.

The zoo has confirmed that no visitors were harmed and that the leopard has since been safely secured. Meanwhile, Israeli police remain on site to oversee the investigation and review security procedures.

As the zoo community mourns the loss of a dedicated caretaker, animal safety experts are expected to re-examine the protocols surrounding big cat management to prevent such tragedies in the future.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members