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Lion shot dead after escaping zoo enclosure in Belgium

The lioness was shot following two unsuccessful attempts to sedate her, after escaping from an enclosure at Planckendael Zoo.

Thursday 21 June 2018 13:11, UK

An Asian lion at the Planckendael Zoo in Mechelen, Belgium. File pic
Image: An Asian lion at Planckendael Zoo in Mechelen, Belgium. File pic
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A lion has been shot dead after escaping its enclosure at a zoo in Belgium.

The female lion escaped its enclosure at Planckendael Zoo, but did not get out of the zoo grounds.

The site was evacuated and closed while a veterinarian tried to sedate the animal.

However, the zoo later reported that the lion had been shot dead by police.

Buses with pupils on a school trip remain in the parking lot of Planckendael Zoo, after a young lioness escaped from its enclosure
Image: Two schoolbuses full of children were held outside the zoo

In a tweet, the zoo said it "had to let the escaped lion sleep" after two "failed anaesthetic attempts". It said that no visitors or staff were at risk.

The lion escaped shortly after the zoo's opening time so there were not many people inside. The park is 19 miles (30km) north of Brussels.

Pupils on a school trip look out from their bus as it has to remain in the parking lot
Image: Pupils on a school trip looked out from their bus as workers tried to find the lioness

Two schoolbuses full of children were held outside the zoo while staff attempted to find the lion.

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