Zoo staff who shot dead a member of an endangered species due to a keeper's negligence have been slammed by animal lovers.
Snow Leopard 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. It was found that the door had been left open due to 'keeper error' after a disciplinary investigation.
Elisa Allen, Director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said: 'Snow leopards, like all animals - humans included - want to be free.
'When animals who have been imprisoned, like Margaash, see an opportunity to escape their dreary lives, they often take it.
'Sadly, these acts of self-liberation are often their last, as many once-captive animals who attempt to follow their natural instincts are killed.
'Zoos are in the business of misery and death - from taking wild animals from their homelands and disrupting their familial bonds to subjecting them to totally unnatural living conditions. 'Holding them captive is one tragedy that often leads to another - and the days of facilities that charge people to see depressed and deprived animals behind bars are numbered.'
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.
Animal lovers reacted with anger after the zoo announced they had shot dead the escaped snow leopard.
Dozens of people bombarded the attraction's social media accounts with furious messages dismayed at the decision to kill Margaash instead of trying to sedate him. Sarah Campbell said: 'Shame on you Dudley zoo vet ! disgusting u had the chance to tranquilliser pfft rip beautiful leopard.'
Marc James Mattinson added: 'No visitors as he escaped after the zoo was closed, why the hell didn't you tranq him instead of killing him?'
Snow Leopard 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. It was found that the door had been left open due to 'keeper error' after a disciplinary investigation.
Elisa Allen, Director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said: 'Snow leopards, like all animals - humans included - want to be free.
'When animals who have been imprisoned, like Margaash, see an opportunity to escape their dreary lives, they often take it.
'Sadly, these acts of self-liberation are often their last, as many once-captive animals who attempt to follow their natural instincts are killed.
'Zoos are in the business of misery and death - from taking wild animals from their homelands and disrupting their familial bonds to subjecting them to totally unnatural living conditions. 'Holding them captive is one tragedy that often leads to another - and the days of facilities that charge people to see depressed and deprived animals behind bars are numbered.'
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.
Animal lovers reacted with anger after the zoo announced they had shot dead the escaped snow leopard.
Dozens of people bombarded the attraction's social media accounts with furious messages dismayed at the decision to kill Margaash instead of trying to sedate him. Sarah Campbell said: 'Shame on you Dudley zoo vet ! disgusting u had the chance to tranquilliser pfft rip beautiful leopard.'
Marc James Mattinson added: 'No visitors as he escaped after the zoo was closed, why the hell didn't you tranq him instead of killing him?'
Why was this beautiful creature not tranquilized?