"While walking with my children, I received a notification of a man injured in the tiger enclosure. I rushed immediately to the location and discovered a man lying unconscious with substantial neck injuries," Magen David Adom paramedic Dov Tzfori, who was first to arrive at the scene, recounted. "I began bleeding control measures immediately, and additional MDA teams arrived very rapidly. We administered life-saving treatment, including resuscitation procedures, and he was evacuated with continued medical care while his condition remained extremely serious."

David Spedge and Abraham Podolsky, United Hatzalah emergency medical technicians, stated they were informed at the scene that the victim was critically injured after being bitten by a tiger. "With assistance from Dr. Ariel Lifshitz, a volunteer physician with United Hatzalah, we provided initial medical care at the scene, and subsequently, he was transported via United Hatzalah ambulance to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. Currently, his condition is classified as critical. Given the incident's nature, United Hatzalah psychological support teams operated at the scene."

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Carrying an aura of cuteness like no other baby pigmy hippopotamus, two-month-old Moo-Deng is drawing in more traffic to Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo than ever before.

I would kill and die to protect Moo Deng, KILL AND DIE. pic.twitter.com/eANH6EW9QD

— aaron (@aaronoleary) September 13, 2024

Moo Deng, Thai for "bouncing pig," catapulted to fame when videos of the bouncy bovine went viral on social media just around two weeks ago. Many of the videos were filmed by her keeper, Atthapon Nundee, who captured some of their interactions, particularly when Moo Deng's rubbery hippo body bounces when reacting to the keepers' touch.

"I've been filming her from day one till day 15 and I pushed out that clip that got over 20 million views. "I expected that she would gain some fame but I didn't expect she'd be this famous," Atthapon told Reuters on Monday.

Moo Deng's TikTok account now has 2.6 million followers, and her fame has grown way beyond the walls of her enclosure, where she has inspired artwork and confectionary creations by die-hard fans. Recently, cosmetics retailer Sephora Thailand started featuring Moo Deng in promotions for blush products with the tagline "Wear your blush like a baby hippo."

According to the zoo's director, Narungwit Chodchoy, the zoo currently sees 3-4,000 visitors per weekday, in contrast to the usually modest number of around 800 at this time of year. And for weekends, they're getting around 10,000 per day, as opposed to the usual 4-5,000.

Moo Deng in Movie #หมูเด้ง #khaokheowzoo

Cr. เพจ Thai Poster : parody pic.twitter.com/zgqJWNOp2t

— สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@kkopzoo) September 16, 2024

On Monday, dozens of fans were crowding around Moo Deng's enclosure to glimpse the baby hippo celebrity. "I left home in Bangkok from 6:30 AM this morning to see Moo Deng. I'm here just to see her," said Ekaphak Mahasawad, a tourist from Bangkok.

The pink-cheeked baby hippo was born with two other siblings, the Thai names of which translate to "Pork Stew" and "Sweet Pork." She is also the granddaughter of 59-year-old female hippo "Malee" who just celebrated her birthday at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo and is Thailand's oldest hippo in captivity.

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With temperatures expected to soar to a scorching 43 Celsius (109,4 Fahrenheit) in some parts of Israel and the Middle East this weekend, lions, bears and other animals at the Ramat Gan Zoo are staying cool by munching on frozen treats in their enclosure.

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With ice-blocks made of either ostrich eggs, blood and meat for carnivores, or sweet fruits for herbivores, the zookeepers said they give animals icy treats "with the things they love eating the most".

Video: Reuters / Heatwave: Israelis feed icy treats to zoo animals and play in Jerusalem fountain

Meanwhile in Jerusalem, children played with the water of a fountain by the Old City walls, cooling off the summer heat.

Israel is no stranger to hot weather events, but this weekend is expected to be more hot and dry than usual, according to the Israel meteorological service.

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Blind and visually impaired visitors to the Ramat Gan Safari can enjoy a more accessible experience, thanks to the Right Hear application.

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In addition to supplying zoological information about the species at the safari, as well as unique stories about the specific animals housed in its 64 enclosures, the Right Hear system helps the blind and visually impaired navigate the park.

One such visitor, Hezi Eliyahu, said, "This brings me full circle. For years, while I was still a young father, I had to look for friends, acquaintances, or family members who would come with me on visits to the safari. This week, I experienced a correction – I walked along the paths independently, knowing exactly which enclosure I was next to and what direction I needed to go in, without needing directions from anyone.

"All the instructions and information surrounded me through the smartphone's speaker. The accessibility includes information about the animals, so a blind person can definitely describe them to their kids and share with them," he said.

"The fact that now I can walk around the safari alone or with my family, and even lead them, and not forgo a family outing, is a really moving, joyous moment for me," Eliyahu added.

Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohen said that the safari's new system was the city's way of "making the safari accessible to people who in the past probably avoided visiting for fear they couldn't enjoy it like everyone else."

Now, Hacohen said, "Blind and visually impaired visitors can feel like they're part of the atmosphere … No less important is the message to the hundreds of thousands of children who visit the safari each year, who will be exposed to our municipal sensitivity to accessibility for everyone and people with special needs in particular."

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A San Francisco Bay Area zoo is inoculating its big cats, bears and ferrets against the coronavirus as part of a national effort to protect animal species using an experimental vaccine.

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Tigers Ginger and Molly were the first two animals at the Oakland Zoo to get the vaccine this week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday. The doses were donated and developed by veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis in New Jersey.

Alex Herman, vice president of veterinary services at the zoo, said none of the animals had gotten the virus, but they wanted to be proactive. Tigers, black and grizzly bears, mountain lions and ferrets were the first to receive the first of two doses. Next are primates and pigs.

In a press release, she said the zoo used barriers for social distancing and staff have worn protective gear to protect susceptible species. "We're happy and relieved to now be able to better protect our animals with this vaccine," she said.

Zoetis is donating more than 11,000 doses for animals living in nearly 70 zoos, as well as more than a dozen conservatories, sanctuaries, academic institutions and government organizations located in 27 states, according to the press release.

The San Diego Zoo started inoculating primates in January after a COVID-19 breakout among a troop of gorillas at its Safari Park.

Great apes share 98% of their DNA with humans and are especially susceptible, as are felines. Confirmed coronavirus cases include gorillas, tigers and lions at zoos, and domestic cats and dogs.

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Zookeepers at the Ramat Gan Safari are excited to welcome a new set of quadruplets – meerkat pups born to proud mother meerkat Angie.

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Female meerkats Angie and Tamar recently joined the safari's meetkat population. Each group of meerkats has only one female that reproduces, so keepers decided to separate Angie and Tamar into two separate groups.

Video: Rachel Ben Ezra

The staff were happy when, one day, they note that Angie was not out and about. Her pregnant belly had flattened, and every time she left her burrow to each, she would take the food back with her, not remaining outside for more than a few seconds.

The zookeepers waited for Angie to bring out her pups, and tried to guess how many she had given birth to. At one point, Safar keeper Rachel Ben Ezra peeked inside the burrow and counted four, but was not sure they would all survive.

For three weeks, the pups stayed inside the burrow, with mother Angie making only occasional appearances. Slowly, Angie began to appear more comfortable and allowed herself to stay outside for longer, enjoying the sun. The two male meerkats in her group also appeared busier and more active.

This week, three weeks after they were born, the meerkat pups have made their public debut. All four stick close to Angie, as they still haven't been weaned. This stage of their development is expected to last a few more weeks. In the meantime, the pups are starting to familiarize themselves with their enclosure.

Meanwhile, Tamar and her male, Gili, are in an adjacent enclosure, and Safari staff hope that they will soon become parents to pups of their own.

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The wildfires, fueled by drought and the country's hottest and driest year on record, have been raging since September, months earlier than is typical for Australia's annual wildfire season. So far, the blazes have killed 25 people, destroyed 2,000 homes and scorched 13 million acres of land, also killing upward of 480 million animals.

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Local wildlife experts say that the fires have pushed many species toward extinction.

"The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo and its staff are distressed by the horrific fires in Australia and the widespread devastation to its unique wildlife," the zoological park said in a statement.

The zoo announced it has donated funds and medical supplies to the Animal Rescue Collective, adding, "The supplies will be purchased in Australia and sent directly to the volunteers on the ground."

Ecologists speaking with The Guardian have expressed grave concerns for the future of unique and endangered wildlife on Kangaroo Island, where the fires started with lightning strikes in the Flinders Chase National Park.

The fires have so far burned a third of the island's area, inflicting devastating damage to the habitats of several unique and endangered species.

The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem has a long relationship with Australia and its Australia Yard houses kangaroos, bettongs, tawny frogmouths, a cassowary, blue-tongue lizards, a kookaburra, and more.

The zoo also houses a colony of 16 flying foxes sent from a special bat shelter in Sydney, where they were rehabilitated after being injured in farmers' fruit-protecting nets.

To donate to the Biblical Zoo's efforts to provide medical care to Australian wildlife, click here.

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The young rhino was born on Dec. 30 and is the 31st white rhino to be born in the zoo, which takes pride in being one of the leading zoos in rhino breeding.

According to zoologist Keren Or, the rhino mother gave birth in the African park before zookeepers could lure her into a fenced area where she could deliver safely.

Both mother and baby rhinos stayed in a safe, fenced area for a few more weeks before the newborn managed to get out of it and began exploring her new home, while still staying close to her mother for much-needed protection.

The latest newborn mammal is still to be named, a spokeswoman for the Safari told Reuters.

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Zookeepers opened the gates of the maternity ward, ‎fenced off from the rest of the wildlife compound in ‎central Israel, to allow the baby rhino to meet her ‎siblings.‎

Born on August 14, the female rhinoceros calf, which has ‎yet to be named, remained at her mother Tanda's side ‎as she was finally permitted to leave the ward and join the safari's crash ‎of 300 southern white rhinoceros.

Israel is home to the largest southern white rhinoceros crash ‎in the European Endangered Species ‎Program, the Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan noted.

This was the 30th rhino birth at the compound, a ‎‎250-acre site comprising both a drive-through ‎African safari area and a modern outdoor zoo. ‎

White rhinos are an endangered species as they are ‎still hunted for their horns. The illegal trade in ‎rhino horns is particularly rampant in Africa and ‎Asia. ‎

Over the past year, 1,028 white rhinos have been ‎hunted in Africa alone. ‎

The Ramat ‎Gan ‎safari ‎is one of 78 international zoological centers ‎that participate in the European Endangered Species ‎Program, a population management program for ‎threatened species in zoos.‎

The North American counterpart is the Species ‎Survival Plan, while Australian, Japanese and Indian ‎zoos also have similar programs.

Combined, there are ‎now hundreds of zoos worldwide involved in ‎regional breeding programs.‎

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