New photo British zoo launches investigation after snow leopard named Margaash was shot dead

A snow leopard has been shot dead after it broke free from its enclosure after a keeper left its door open.

Margaash, eight, escaped from the compound at Dudley Zoo when it was left open by a member of staff. 

The West Midlands enclosure issued a statement saying there was 'no other option in the interest of public safety' than to kill the animal.

The snow leopard is an endangered species and there are just 4,000 left in the wild, sparsely spread across 12 countries. 

The snow leopard (pictured) broke free when the door was left open leaving zoo staff no option but to shoot 

The eight-year-old was killed, leaving staff 'heartbroken' and an investigation found the leopard only broke free due to keeper error

It was found that the door had been left open due to 'keeper error' after a disciplinary investigation.

The zoo said they had 'no other option in the interest of public safety' after efforts to persuade the animal to return to his enclosure failed and said he did not suffer.

How many endangered snow leopards are left? 

There are just 4,000 snow leopard left in the wild and they are sparsely distributed across 12 countries.

The animals are currently classed as endangered.  

The live from southern Russia down to the Tibetan plateau, including Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal.

Their natural habitat is mountain landscapes higher than 3,000 metres.

But the high Himalayas are warming at three times the global average, affecting their habitat.

Domestic livestock over-grazing is also wrecking mountain grasslands.

And the animals are hunted by poachers for use in traditional Asian medicine. 

Source: WWF

They said Margaash's escape happened after the zoo had closed and all visitors had left the site before he was shot by a senior member of the firearms team.

A spokesman said: 'Once keepers saw snow leopard Margaash outside, the animal escape procedure was implemented and managers were notified, while the firearms team managed the incident.

'At the time and in the subsequent weeks, the zoo's prime focus has been to fully investigate what happened and carry out a stringent review of all zoo enclosure security.

'The door to the enclosure was left open through keeper error which has resulted in a disciplinary investigation of those involved.'

Margaash was born at Banham Zoo in Norfolk in May 2010 and came to Dudley Zoo in September 2011, where he lived with our three-year-old female Taïga.

The zoo said visitors who adopted Margaash were told of the incident shortly after it happened and all keepers were informed to be able to explain the extremely difficult circumstances to visitors.

Zoo Director Derek Grove said: 'This was an incredibly sad incident and our staff are understandably heartbroken.

'Euthanasia is, and always will be, a last resort. Efforts to persuade Margaash to return to his enclosure failed.

'As he was close to surrounding woodland and dark was approaching, the vet did not believe a tranquiliser dart was a safe option due to the amount of time the drug takes to work.

'Safety of the public is always of paramount importance and our staff are highly experienced and rigorously trained.'

 

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News Pictures British zoo launches investigation after snow leopard named Margaash was shot dead

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