Deer Jumps Into Lion Cage At DC Zoo (VIDEO): Animal Escapes, But Is Put Down

A wild deer jumped into the lion enclosure at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. on Sunday and inspired onlookers as it fought to escape from the big cats. However, despite breaking free, the Washington Post reports that the animal had to be euthanized. The deer had a serious wound on its belly.

According to the zoo's spokeswoman, the young female deer jumped a 3 1/2- to 4-foot retaining wall and landed in a moat surrounding the enclosure. It was then attacked by two female lions. Video of the encounter that has been posted to YouTube shows the deer escaping from one of the cats and jumping back into the moat.

The Washington Post reports that more than 100 zoo guests were at the enclosure at the time of the attack and a witness said people were shouting "Go! Go! Go!" and that "everyone was rooting for the deer."

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