Bear escapes from private enclosure at Melios Zoo in Nicosia

On the evening of Saturday, October 10, 2026, a bear escaped its enclosure at the Melios Zoo in the Agioi Trimithias area of Nicosia. The facility's 60-year-old owner, Menelaos Menelaou, reported that the animal escaped while he was attempting to feed it shortly after 7:00 p.m. Police, the Game and Fauna Service, and emergency units were deployed to the scene to ensure public safety, and the animal was secured and returned to its enclosure by the owner around 8:00 p.m. While authorities and the facility owner state the bear remained within the park's premises, the Animal Party Cyprus has expressed serious concerns regarding safety protocols and the circumstances of the breach.

Legal context reveals that the facility has faced significant regulatory challenges. The zoo's operating license was not renewed in 2017, and in April 2026, the Supreme Constitutional Court dismissed the owner's appeal, upholding previous decisions against the operation of the zoo. Additionally, a May 2026 court ruling confirmed the owner's conviction for operating without a license. Currently, the Kokkinotrimithia Police Station is conducting an investigation into the incident, while the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare has called for stricter inspections of animal housing facilities.