Jaguar shot after escape from sanctuary

2008-02-13

Canadian Press, thestar.com

Provincial police were forced to shoot and kill a 180-kilogram jaguar after it escaped from an exotic animal reserve in Bracebridge, Ontario.

The owner of Guha Exotic Animal Reserve called police at about 5 pm Tuesday after the six-year-old jaguar named Bhino broked through the chain link fence of its enclosure.

When officers arrived, the found the jaguar still on the property near the family home with their pet dog in its mouth and police say officers shot and killed the jaguar in the interest of public safety.

The dog was on its chain and therefore couldn't escape the jaguar and it had to be down because of its severe injuries.

Guha Exotic Animal Reserve is home to many other wild animals, including lions, but police say all of the other enclosures were deemed secure.

The local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was notified and will be conducting it own investigation.