A 36-year-old zoo employee at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, Uriel Nuri, tragically died after being attacked by a leopard that escaped its enclosure during a behind-the-scenes tour on Friday morning. Nuri, head of the zoo’s carnivore team, was preparing an enrichment activity when the leopard broke into the inner courtyard and attacked him.
The zoo stated that the attack occurred during a routine activity and confirmed that at no point were visitors in danger, as they were safely behind glass. Nuri was rushed to Hadassah University Hospital–Ein Kerem with severe injuries to his upper body, but doctors declared him dead after extensive resuscitation efforts. The zoo is now closed and cooperating with Israeli police to investigate the incident.
