Wild deer jumps into zoo's Lion Den and is fatally injured as zoo visitors watch

[Liberal_in_LA]

Deer Killed After Jump into Zoo's Lion Den
Washington Post: Crowd at National Zoo Watches as Wild Deer Escapes Lion but Is Fatally Injured

A deer that jumped a wall at the National Zoo was fatally injured by two lions Sunday as dozens of startled spectators looked on.

Zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson described the incident as highly unusual. It began about 2:50 p.m. as visitors lined the perimeter wall of an enclosure that contained two female lions, and it involved a deer that may have entered from Rock Creek Park.

"Everyone was cheering, 'Go, go, go' " to encourage the deer to reach safety, witness Josh Shpayher said. "Everyone was rooting for the deer."

As recounted by witnesses, the deer, over as much as 20 minutes, was in and out of a moat while the lions clutched, clawed or swatted it. A crowd of spectators grew. Some shrieked, cried out or took children away.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/09/politics/washingtonpost/main5588563.shtml?tag=pop

[A HERETIC I AM]

1. "Everyone was rooting for the deer."

I have a feeling at least a few were rooting for the Lions.

[Greg K]

2. The circle of life.

[Ferret Annica]

3. Well, deer are more nutritious then Christians anyway

Glad they didn't have any of those to bite into.

[undeterred]

4. Reminds me of when a chipmunk ran through the dog park.

Some mistakes are fatal.

[Dreamer Tatum]

5. I understand that in the wild, lions eat other animals from time to time

Maybe that's where they got the idea.

[KittyWampus]

6. "took children away" and then took them to McDonalds for a Happy Meal.

[MagnaChucka]

7. Don't you think...

Don't you think a deer would be able to like smell that jumping into a lions den was a bad or something along those lines? I mean I realize that their primary defense is speed, but still.

[undeterred]

10. This was a baby deer.

He probably thought it smelled weird and went to investigate.

[gatorboy]

12. I was about to say, take them to a slaughter house,

Then they can cheer the cow as it tries to escape the meat grinder.

"Go, cow, go!!!"

On a side note, that was a real piss poor attempt by that lion.

[Arugula Latte]

8. A horrible death for the poor little deer, but that was probably the lions' best day ever.

:(

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. Yeah, the lions will be reminiscing about today for a long time. "remember the day that deer came...

[SeattleVet]

11. Well, zoos *are* supposed to be about education and all...

so I think this would have made an outstanding 'teachable moment'.

Yes, nature is a harsh master. Animals live, die, fornicate, and kill each other. We naked apes also drink a little beer and wine from time to time, but not too much more separates us from the rest of the predatory mammals out there.