A zoo has said it is "devastated and outraged" that a young lynx, which escaped last month, was shot dead on the orders of a local council.

Eighteen month old Lillith, a Eurasian lynx who was twice the size of a domestic cat, went missing from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom near Aberystwyth on 29 October.

She was shot dead after Ceredigion Council warned of an increased risk to humans after the cat "strayed over to a populated area of the community".

In a statement posted on the zoo's Facebook page a spokesman said: "I would like to make it clear to everyone ... that the decision to kill her was not ours and we in no way agreed to or participated in the shooting of our baby lynx.

"We are truly devastated and outraged that this happened."


Numerous attempts had been made to recapture Lillith since her escape, and at one stage a police helicopter was also brought in to help.

The news that she had been shot dead was posted on Facebook by Aberystwyth central councillor Ceredig Davies.

He said: "It is with deep regret that Ceredigion County Council reports on the humane destruction of the Eurasian Lynx that recently escaped from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom.

"The safety of the public was paramount and therefore once the Lynx had strayed over to a populated area of the community it was necessary to act decisively."

Numerous people criticised the council's response in comments on Mr Davies' Facebook post.

One said: "Other countries can tranquillise big cats & other wildlife, capture and move them to another location away from populated areas. Shame on Ceredigion."

Another added: "Question: if it was in close enough range to be killed, why could it not have been shot with a sedative?"

The zoo has claimed that there have never been any recorded attacks on humans by lynx - but the animals do have sharp claws and sharp teeth.