A senior zookeeper at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo has died after being attacked by a leopard that escaped from its enclosure during a behind-the-scenes tour on Friday morning.

Uriel Nuri, 36, was preparing an enrichment activity for the leopards when the animal breached its enclosure and entered an inner courtyard, where it fatally injured him. Nuri was the head of the zoo’s carnivores team and was known for sharing educational content about his work with big cats.

Emergency services transported him to Hadassah University Hospital–Ein Kerem, where medical staff attempted resuscitation. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival due to extensive upper body injuries.

In an official statement, the zoo said:

“The tragic event occurred during a routine activity… At no point was there any physical danger to the visitors, who stood protected behind a glass window.”

Israeli police and zoo officials have launched a joint investigation into how the leopard escaped. According to Haaretz, one possibility being examined is a faulty or unsecured cage door.

The zoo remains closed to visitors as the investigation continues. It expressed deep sorrow over Nuri’s death, stating:

“Our staff’s pain is immense. Our hearts go out to Uriel’s family.”

The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is home to dozens of species, with a focus on animals mentioned in the Bible and endangered wildlife. This is not the zoo’s first major incident—last year, a crocodile bit a staff member, leaving her seriously injured.

Further updates are expected as the investigation develops.