(Live here) – Haifa Zoo: An unusual incident occurred this morning (Monday, June 8, 2026) at the Haifa Educational Zoo, when a man with a gun broke into the enclosure and smashed the side window of the Persian tiger's exhibit. Thanks to the camera array and the quick response of the zoo staff, the incident was handled quickly and without danger to the animals or visitors.
The incident: The shattering of the display window and the man's escape to the bear exhibit
Around 11:00 AM, a report was received of a man breaking into the zoo and smashing the glass of the tiger exhibit. Immediately upon the incident, the "ANGS" alert procedure, a procedure designed to prevent the escape of dangerous animals, was activated, even though the tiger did not actually approach the glass area and posed no real danger.
The zoo staff, accompanied by the chief veterinarian, the chief caretaker, the zoo director and the CEO of ETHOS, arrived at the scene within minutes. As they approached, the man, about 25 years old, fled towards the bear exhibit and climbed a tall tree.
Handling the incident: sedation, rescue forces, and evacuation
The zoo staff tried to calm the man down until the police, MDA, and his father, who was called to the scene, arrived. After joint efforts and taking into account his mental state, he was safely rescued and taken to hospital for further treatment and medical supervision.
Social warning: “Thousands around us are dealing with a wounded soul”
The management of Ethos noted that beyond the professional and prompt handling of the event itself, it serves as a painful reminder of the daily reality in Israel: "There are many thousands of battle-scarred people and people with wounded souls living around us. Sometimes the outbreak comes without warning, and requires an inclusive, sensitive, and embracing response."