A bear that reportedly escaped from Melios Zoo Park near Paleometocho has been safely returned to its enclosure, police confirmed on Saturday, as the Animal Party Cyprus called for the facility’s immediate closure.
The incident prompted an urgent warning to residents of Paleometocho and neighbouring communities before the animal was secured by the zoo’s owner.
However, the police and zoo management have given differing accounts of the incident, with the zoo insisting that the bear never left its premises.
According to a police statement, officers were notified on Saturday evening, 10 October, by the person responsible for a facility in the Kokkinotrimithia–Agioi Trimithias area of Nicosia district that a bear had escaped.
Police mobilised to deal with the incident.
The person responsible for the facility subsequently secured the animal and safely returned it to its enclosure.
Police said there was no longer any cause for public concern following the bear’s return.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Animal Party demands immediate closure of zoo
Animal Party Cyprus expressed anger and dismay over the incident, calling for the immediate and permanent closure of Melios Zoo.
In a statement, the party said it had contacted the Paleometocho community leader, who confirmed that the bear had escaped from its enclosure before being returned.
The party argued that the incident had endangered both public safety and the animal’s life.
It also questioned why the facility was still operating despite what it described as previous court rulings concerning its licensing status.
According to the Animal Party, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the zoo’s owner on 18 May 2026, upholding his conviction by the Nicosia District Court.
The party said the court had confirmed that the facility was operating illegally, with a licence that had expired on 25 September 2017, because the necessary regulatory requirements had not been met.
These claims were made by the Animal Party in its statement and have not been independently verified.
Criticism of state authorities
The Animal Party accused the state and Veterinary Services of failing to take sufficient action over the facility’s continued operation.
It rejected arguments that ongoing legal proceedings had prevented the authorities from intervening, saying such explanations were no longer acceptable following the Court of Appeal’s decision.
The party questioned what steps the Veterinary Services had taken to safeguard the animals’ welfare and ensure suitable living conditions.
It also warned that the continued operation of the facility posed risks to residents of Paleometocho and surrounding communities.
The party called on the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Minister of Justice and Public Order to intervene personally and ensure that court decisions were implemented without further delay.
It also demanded that Cyprus Police launch an investigation into the circumstances in which the bear left its enclosure.
In addition, the party called on all relevant authorities to permanently close the zoo and arrange the safe transfer of its animals to suitable, approved facilities.
“The time for tolerance is over. The state must demonstrate whether it is governed by its laws or by inaction towards those who break them,” the party said.
“Close Melios Zoo now!”
Zoo denies bear escaped from its premises
Melios Zoo Park disputed claims that the bear had escaped beyond the boundaries of the facility.
In its own statement, the zoo described the incident as isolated and unfortunate, explaining that one of its two bears had temporarily left its designated enclosure at a time when the park was closed to visitors.
“We would like to inform the public that an isolated and unfortunate incident occurred, during which one of our two bears temporarily left its enclosure outside visiting hours,” the statement said.
“We clarify that the animal did not at any point escape beyond the boundaries of our park.”
The zoo said its staff responded immediately and notified the relevant authorities, who responded promptly.
According to management, the owner safely returned the bear to its enclosure without assistance from any authority and without anyone being placed in danger.
The zoo also said police had carried out a full inspection of the premises and confirmed that everything was safe and under control.
“The safety of our visitors and the welfare of the animals in our care always remain our priority,” the statement said.
The zoo’s account differs from the earlier police announcement, which said the person responsible for the facility had reported that a bear had escaped from the premises. The police statement did not clarify whether the animal had gone beyond the zoo’s outer perimeter.
Earlier warning to Paleometocho residents
Earlier on Saturday evening, Paleometocho Community Council issued an urgent announcement urging residents of the village and surrounding areas to exercise particular caution.
The council warned that the animal could pose a risk to human safety and advised residents not to approach, chase or attempt to trap it.
Residents were also urged to keep children and pets in safe areas as a precaution.
The warning was issued before police confirmed that the bear had been secured and returned to its enclosure.
Editorial verification
The article preserves the three distinct accounts in the supplied material: the police statement, the Animal Party’s allegations and the zoo management’s response.
Two distinctions are particularly important for publication:
- Whether the bear left the zoo: The zoo explicitly denies that the animal crossed its external boundaries. The police statement refers to an escape from the premises but does not establish precisely how far the bear travelled. The article does not attempt to resolve this contradiction.
- The zoo’s legal status: The details of the alleged licensing violations, expired permit and Court of Appeal decision are attributed to Animal Party Cyprus. They are not presented as independently verified court findings.
All direct quotations have been checked against the supplied Greek text, and no statements have been invented or attributed to sources that did not make them.
