/ Source: The Associated Press
Officials at a Kansas zoo are trying to figure out how a 150-pound mountain lion escaped from its enclosure.
The 14-year-old female was shot and killed by police at the Great Bend Zoo on Sunday evening.
Zoo director Mike Cargill tells KAKE-TV the mountain lion escaped during feeding time shortly before closing and staff quickly moved the few zoo-goers in the area to safety.
Cargill says visitors were never in danger but the situation was "deteriorating quickly." The big cat was frightened and had a history of being somewhat aggressive.
Tranquilizer darts would have taken a half-hour to arrive so police were called in.
Great Bend police shot and killed the cougar as it crouched in the bushes next to the bobcat exhibit.