Yatsey the vulture killed by lion in front of shocked spectators at British zoo

Yatsey the vulture was killed after landing on a net above the lion enclosure. Photo / Colchester Zoo

A beloved vulture has been mauled to death at Colchester Zoo after landing on the lion enclosure during a free flight.

Yatsey, 22, who often took part in bird displays, suffered a puncture wound after being bitten by a lion.

Although zoo experts thought the eurasian griffon vulture would survive with prompt veterinary treatment, he died of shock on the journey to animal hospital.

A shocked family said the wind blew the vulture onto the lion enclosure, telling the Ipswich Star: "It's a bit unbelievable, really. We were watching the falcon display and the trainer said, we're going to have to try something different with the vulture today because the winds are blowing in a different direction.

Following an incident on Sunday 4th February we are saddened to report the passing of Griffon Vulture Yatsey. You can read the full statement regarding this on our website here> https://t.co/jkcyNpeM9B pic.twitter.com/N3Ho8zmqmZ

— Colchester Zoo (@ColchesterZoo) February 5, 2018

"Obviously, the vulture didn't do what they hoped it would do because it just carried on flying off and you could hear the trainer saying, 'Where's he going? Where's he going?'

"I looked over and I could see that he had landed on the netting above the lion enclosure and got his feet caught and couldn't seem to fly away.

"The next thing, a female lion just jumps up and grabs it and just rips it through the net. I could see it in her mouth."

The zoo posted on Facebook: "Yatsey was free flying during one of our educational bird displays when he diverted from his usual course and landed on the netted roof above the lion's enclosure. Instinctively, one of the lioness' caught Yatsey.

"Keepers acted quickly and effectively to get the lions into their inside enclosure to prevent them from causing further harm.

Ash the Barn Owl was killed in February 2012 after a free-flight demonstration when terribly wrong.

"Yatsey was swiftly retrieved by keepers and after an initial examination Yatsey had sustained a puncture wound, which looked treatable and keepers were confident he would pull through with veterinary treatment. However, following the situation Yatsey had experienced, on the journey to the vets Yatsey sadly passed away from shock."

The zoo wrote that the bird had a "huge personality" and that he was a "much-loved member of the displays team".

This isn't the first time the zoo has lost a bird of prey to the lions.

In February 2012 Ash the barn owl became spooked during a free flight. She landed on a ledge in the lion enclosure and was knocked down by a lioness, before another lion pounced and killed her in front of horrified onlookers.