An employee at the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem was killed this morning (Friday) after being bitten by a leopard.
Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that the incident occurred at 9:55 AM, when a call was received about a zoo worker being attacked by a leopard within the zoo grounds.
MDA medics and paramedics arrived at the scene and provided initial medical treatment to a man around 36 years old who was found unconscious and suffering from severe neck injuries.
The injured man was transported in serious condition to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, where he was later declared dead.
Police forces from the Moriah Station in the Jerusalem District were dispatched to the scene to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Uriel Nuri.
The zoo stated that the incident occurred “during a routine enrichment preparation activity for the leopards, which took place as part of a behind-the-scenes tour for visitors. One of the leopards managed to exit the leopard house into the inner yard and attacked one of the zoo employees who was preparing the activity. With the assistance of the Israel Police, we are now conducting a thorough investigation to understand how the leopard managed to get into the yard.”
Magen David Adom (MDA) medic Dov Tzipori, who was the first to arrive at the scene, said: While I was walking with my children, I received a report of a man injured in the leopard enclosure. I ran quickly to the scene and saw a man around 25 years old lying unconscious with severe injuries to his neck.”
He added: “I immediately began bleeding control procedures, and very quickly, additional MDA teams arrived. We provided life-saving treatment, including resuscitation efforts, and he was evacuated while still receiving medical care. His condition was very serious.”
David Spadj and Avraham Podolsky, medics from United Hatzalah, reported: “We were told at the scene that he was critically injured after being bitten by a leopard. With the help of Dr. Ariel Lifshitz, a volunteer physician with United Hatzalah, we provided initial medical treatment at the scene. He was then transported by United Hatzalah ambulance to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. At this stage, his condition is classified as critical.”