A zoo worker has died after being mauled by a tiger that escaped its enclosure during a behind-the-scenes tour at Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo. Uriel Nuri, 36, was found unconscious with severe head injuries on Friday and later pronounced dead at Hadassah Medical Center.
Mr Nuri was the head of the zoo's carnivores team, according to his Instagram page. The zoo stated that the tiger escaped into an inner courtyard where Mr Nuri was preparing an enrichment activity for visitors. Police are investigating whether a technical malfunction in the enclosure door allowed the animal to escape.
A zoo spokesperson confirmed that visitors were not in danger, as they were protected behind a glass window. The incident occurred during a routine activity, and the zoo is cooperating with police to determine how the tiger managed to escape.
Mr Nuri had previously posted on Facebook about his dedication to his work, even during times of emergency, sharing a photo of himself feeding a leopard. The 62-acre zoo houses dozens of species, focusing on animals mentioned in the Bible and endangered species from around the world.
