Tiger Kills Zookeeper During Routine Activity at Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

A tragic incident unfolded at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo on the morning of August 1, when a tiger escaped its enclosure and fatally attacked a zoo employee during a behind-the-scenes tour. The victim, 36-year-old Uriel Nuri, was head of the carnivores team and had been preparing for a routine enrichment activity for the tigers when the animal broke into the inner courtyard and launched the fatal attack.

Nuri sustained critical injuries to his upper body and was rushed to the trauma unit at Hadassah University Hospital-Ein Kerem. Despite extensive medical efforts, he was pronounced dead. “After prolonged resuscitation efforts, the team was forced to declare him dead,” the hospital said, adding that staff are supporting his family through the tragedy.

The zoo confirmed the attack occurred during a routine activity, with visitors safely observing from behind protective glass. “At no point was there any physical danger to the visitors,” the zoo stated. It has since closed to the public and is cooperating with Israeli police to investigate how the tiger managed to escape. Reports from Israeli daily Haaretz suggest a malfunctioning enclosure door may be the focus of the investigation.

Nuri was well known among zoo staff and visitors for sharing his work on social media, often posting videos of his interactions with the animals. “Our pain is immense and our hearts go out to Uriel’s family,” the zoo said in a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss.

The 62-acre Biblical Zoo in southwest Jerusalem houses a range of animals, many referenced in the Bible, as well as critically endangered species like the Sumatran tiger. This is not the first serious incident at the facility; last year, a crocodile severely injured another staff member.