Lion shot dead at Belgian zoo after escaping from enclosure

A lion has been shot dead at a Belgian zoo after escaping from its enclosure.

Planckendael zoo was evacuated and placed on lockdown after the female lion went on the loose on Thursday morning.

Zoo workers struggled in vain to anaesthetise the young animal, who was extremely panicked, but were eventually forced to kill her.

The zoo later said in a statement: “After two failed anaesthetic attempts, we had to let the escaped lion sleep. At no point were any visitors or staff at risk.”

The lion escaped at 9.45am, just after opening time, at the zoo located 19 miles north of Belgian capital Brussels.

Schoolchildren visiting the zoo were kept on buses while the lion reportedly roamed around the grounds.

Up to 40 people were also forced to hide in a gift shop at the park entrance as the drama unfolded.

Spokeswoman Ilse Segers said that the lion had not got out of the zoo’s grounds and confirmed that no members of the public were in any danger.