Kent Tiger shot dead after escape

A tiger has been shot dead after it escaped from a wildlife park in Canterbury.

Sariska, a four-year-old Indian tigress, slipped out of an enclosure at Howletts wild animal park, early yesterday morning.

Both Howletts and its sister zoo Port Lympne Estates, founded by the late millionaire John Aspinall, have been dogged by controversy in recent years. In February last year the estate pleaded guilty to health and safety violations at its Port Lympne zoo, near Hythe, after 27-year-old keeper Darren Cockrill was mauled to death by an elephant.

Canterbury City Council said it was informed of the escape and has asked Howletts to tighten up its security.

In a written statement, Howletts said: "A decision was made by the director on site to sadly put her [Sariska] down in the interest of safety. An investigation is under way as to how she escaped. Meanwhile the other tiger in the enclosure has been moved."