A LION has been shot dead after it escaped an enclosure at a German zoo - despite officials admitting it posed no danger to the public.

The lion, along with another big cat, ran amok through the Leipzig Zoo grounds before staff managed to corner them.

2 Majo and Motshegetsi escaped their enclosures and were roaming the zoo Credit: Facebook / Zoo Leipzig

2 Leipzig Zoo was closed to visitors following the escape - which occurred 20 minutes before it opened to the public Credit: AP:Associated Press

The male lions - called Majo and Motshegetsi - were new to the zoo, having arrived in August.

Leipzig Zoo officials said the lions somehow escaped their cages overnight.

Cops confirmed they assisted staff and helped corner the animals and try and usher them back into cages.

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Maria Saegebarth, a spokeswoman for the zoo, told local website LVZ.de: "I can confirm that there was an incident today morning. The two lions have left yet unknown way their enclosure.

"The zoo has therefore been closed for the time being."

They added that at no time were members of the public in danger.

The paper reported one of the lions was killed after tranquillisers failed to subdue it, while visitors - including schoolchildren - queued outside the premises.

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