A bear escaped from its enclosure. Melios Zoo was supposed to be closed.

An alarm has been raised in the Paleometocho area near Nicosia after a bear escaped from its enclosure at Melios Zoo. The animal has since been secured, and police assure there is no cause for concern at this time. However, the incident raises another question: why does the facility continue to house wild animals despite previous decisions to cease operations?

The incident occurred on the evening of October 10, 2026. Local authorities warned residents of the potential threat, and police took action. Melios Zoo management maintains that the bear only escaped from the area where it was being held and remained within the park throughout the entire incident.

Residents are being alerted. The bear has been secured.

The Paleometocho local council also issued an urgent message to residents of neighboring towns, warning that a bear had escaped from Melios Zoo and could pose a threat.

Residents were asked not to approach the animal, nor to attempt to chase or catch it. They were also advised to leave children and pets in safe places.

Police subsequently confirmed that they had received a report from the person responsible for the property in the Kokkinotrimithia and Agioi Trimithias area. The owner secured the bear and brought it to its current location.

After the animal's return, police reported that there was no longer cause for concern for residents. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.

Melios Zoo presents its own version

The park's management described the incident as an isolated, unfortunate incident. According to the statement, one of the two female or male bears housed there—the statement did not specify gender—temporarily left her enclosure during hours when the facility was closed to visitors.

The park vehemently denies that the animal escaped from its property. It also assures that staff immediately responded and notified the appropriate authorities.

Therefore, the escape from the zoo grounds should not be treated as an indisputable fact. The animal's escape from its holding place and its subsequent securing by the owner are confirmed. The discrepancies between the first alarm and the park's position require explanation.

Melios Zoo was supposed to be closed earlier

The dispute over the facility's operations has been ongoing for years. Veterinary services refused to renew its permit in 2017 and ordered it to cease operations.

In April 2026, the Supreme Constitutional Court dismissed the owner's appeal, upholding the previous ruling regarding administrative decisions regarding the park. The case involved, among other things, the lack of required permits, unapproved expansions, and concerns about animal welfare and safety.

Despite this, the owner publicly argued that the “farm” he ran was still operating normally.

This is an important distinction: cease-and-desist decisions and judgments do not mean that the facility has been effectively closed and the animals relocated.

The court also upheld the conviction for operating without a permit.

A separate proceeding concerned the criminal liability of the owner. On May 18, 2026, the appeals court upheld his conviction for running a zoo without a valid permit.

The permit expired on September 25, 2017. A subsequent inspection showed that operations continued.

The owner questioned, among other things, the facility's classification as a zoo. The court rejected this argument and upheld the previous ruling.

The October incident therefore concerns a place whose legal status has already been the subject of specific decisions and court proceedings.

They demand the closure of the park and the relocation of the animals.

Following the incident, the Cyprus Animal Party requested urgent intervention from the authorities. They are demanding the permanent closure of the facility and the safe relocation of the animals to appropriate, approved facilities.

The group has called on the ministers responsible for agriculture and justice, the police, and veterinary services to take action. It criticizes the failure to effectively end the park's operations despite previous decisions.

These are the party's demands and assessments. They do not constitute information about a new closure decision being issued following this incident.

What's next for Melios Zoo?

For now, the bear has been secured, and police are continuing their investigation. The reason for the animal's escape from its enclosure has not yet been publicly disclosed.

It also remains to be determined whether security has been breached and what actions will be taken by the services responsible for supervising the facility.

The most important question, however, goes beyond the escape itself: how will previous decisions regarding the operation of Melios Zoo be implemented and what will happen to the animals still housed there?

Sources: Cyprus Mail, Cyprus Police, Paleometocho Council, Melios Zoo, Party for Animals.