While browsing YouTube, I came across the story of Gabi, a long-haired German Shepherd who became a legend at the Belgrade Zoo.
In 1987, she confronted an escaped jaguar to protect a zookeeper, preventing a disaster in the city streets.
Her actions serve as a definitive example of a dog’s loyalty and natural instinct to protect in the face of danger.
Arrival at the Belgrade Zoo
Gabi arrived at the Belgrade Zoo as an eight-year-old German Shepherd.
It was late for a dog to start a career, but she was put straight to work on the night shift.
Along with Stanimir Stanic and another male Shepherd, she covered the grounds after the gates closed. She wasn’t there as a mascot (she was an active guard dog). [1]
That became clear the night a jaguar managed to get out of its cage.
A Night Like No Other
On June 22, 1987, a young female jaguar escaped its enclosure and headed toward the zoo’s administrative buildings.
Gabi was on patrol with Stanić when she picked up the threat.
She charged into the darkness, but the male German Shepherd that was with them turned and ran in the opposite direction.
Gabi was left to face the jaguar alone. Stanić, hearing the snarling and roaring in the dark, called for help while Gabi held the animal in place, preventing it from getting any closer to the zoo’s gates.
Below is a photo from the Alpina section of the zoo, showing the former jaguar enclosure (1987). Marked by a red circle, this area once housed a sleeping hut along the wall, where the jaguar famously escaped. It broke through the hut’s roof, scaled the unscathed part of the wall, and leaped over two meters to clear the bars that once ran along it—bending one of the steel rods in the process. Today, this space remains empty, as the once small tree could now pose a risk to any animal in the enclosure. [2]
The Fight for Her Life
When help arrived, they found that Gabi had driven the jaguar back toward its enclosure.
She had sustained grave injuries during the fight.
To prevent further danger, the authorities were forced to euthanize the jaguar.
Gabi was found nearby in a pool of blood, unable to move but still alive.
Her intervention had stopped the predator before it could reach anyone else or escape the zoo grounds.
A Painful Recovery
Gabi was rushed to the Veterinary Faculty in critical condition.
Because the zoo lacked a proper clinic at the time, the director’s office was turned into a treatment room.
It was a makeshift setup: coat hooks were used to hang IV bags, and chairs were pushed together to make her bed.
The staff, veterinarians, and the director himself took turns staying with her around the clock.
It took weeks of constant care before Gabi was finally able to stand on her own again.
Becoming a Symbol of Courage
News of Gabi’s bravery spread quickly, and her loyalty became well-known. In recognition of her actions, a monument was erected in her honor at the zoo.
The inscription, “Her heart was stronger than a jaguar,” stands as a tribute to her courage.
Gabi continued to serve the zoo until she passed away in 1992, remaining a dedicated guard dog until the end.
A Legacy That Endures
Gabi’s story is a reminder of the courage that can emerge in a crisis.
To this day, visitors to the Belgrade Zoo stop at her monument to remember the night a German Shepherd stood her ground against a jaguar.
Her legacy remains a testament to the bond between humans and animals and the selflessness they show in the face of danger.
I hope Gabi’s story has moved you as much as it did me.
To me, it shows just how much animals are willing to do for us.
Thank you for reading!
Sources:
Gabi (pas) – more information
- This page is dedicated to Gabby, the courageous female German Shepherd and the Hero of the Belgrade Zoo (more information)
