A zookeeper has been mauled to death by a leopard after it escaped from its enclosure while he prepared a tour for visitors.
The 36-year-old employee at Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, named locally as Uriel Nuri, was pronounced dead after suffering wounds to his neck and upper body.
Local media reports that the leopard escaped its habitat and reached an inner courtyard.
He was taken to Hadassah-University Medical Centre in Ein Kerem in a critical condition to undergo medical treatment. After extensive efforts, hospital staff declared him dead.
Paramedic Dov Shari told the Jerusalem Post: ‘I ran over and saw a man lying unconscious, with significant injuries to his neck. We immediately attempted to stop the bleeding, and very quickly, another team arrived.
‘We gave him life-saving treatment, including CPR, before he was evacuated for further treatment.’
The zoo said in a statement: ‘During a routine activity to prepare food for the leopards, which took place as part of a behind-the-scenes tour for visitors of the zoo, a leopard managed to escape from the leopard house into the inner courtyard and attacked one of the zoo employees.
Police have since arrived at the scene, with officers seen entering the leopard’s enclosure
Uriel Nuri (pictured, with a leopard) was pronounced dead after suffering wounds to his neck and upper body.
It added: ‘At no point was there any physical danger to the visitors, who were protected behind a glass window.
‘With the help of the Israel Police, we are now conducting a comprehensive investigation to understand how the leopard managed to escape into the courtyard.’
Police have since arrived at the scene, with officers seen entering the leopard’s enclosure.
Just last year, a crocodile that escaped its enclosure at Jerusalem Biblical Zoo was shot after it seriously wounded a staff member.
The 45-year-old man was taken to an intensive care unit after being sedated, following the attack.
A security guard who witnessed the crocodile attack shot and killed the animal.
