Deer dies after leaping into D.C. lion pen

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A deer that leaped into a lion enclosure at Washington's National Zoo escaped the lions but was euthanized due to severe injuries, officials said.

With spectators looking on, the deer jumped into the enclosure at about 2:50 p.m. EST Sunday. The deer eluded the pursuit of the two female lionesses in the enclosure and managed to escape them, landing in a moat, The Washington Post reported.

However, zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said zoo employees determined the deer should be put down because "it was pretty evident that the deer would not survive."