JERUSALEM – A tragic incident unfolded at the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, popularly known as the Biblical Zoo, on Friday morning, August 1, 2025, when a 36-year-old employee was fatally mauled by a Persian tiger.
The victim, identified as Uriel Nuri, was reportedly preparing enrichment activities for a scheduled visitor tour when the tiger somehow escaped its enclosure. The attack occurred at approximately 9:55 a.m. local time.
According to zoo officials, the tiger had been brought to Israel earlier this year as part of the facility’s wildlife conservation programme. The circumstances surrounding its escape remain unclear.
Emergency medical teams from Magen David Adom were quickly dispatched to the scene. Paramedics found Nuri unconscious and suffering from severe trauma. He was rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in critical condition.
“The trauma team identified extensive injuries to his upper body,” the hospital said in an official statement. “Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, his death was declared shortly after arrival.”
Police from Jerusalem’s Moriah precinct have opened an investigation into the incident. Zoo management has pledged full cooperation, while the tiger has since been secured and relocated within the facility.
The Biblical Zoo remains temporarily closed as authorities assess safety protocols and determine the cause of the deadly breach.
