A snow leopard has been shot dead after escaping from an enclosure at Dudley Zoo.

The eight-year-old leopard named Margaash escaped the area when a zookeeper accidentally left a door open last month. After the animal was spotted outside, he was shot dead by the zoo's firearms team. The zoo had been closed at the time. Margaash was killed by one shot by a senior member of the firearms team. Dudley Zoo director, Derek Grove, said that the leopard "did not suffer" and that he had to be killed in the interest of public safety.  "This was an incredibly sad incident and our staff are understandably heartbroken," he said. "Euthanasia is, and always will be, a last resort. Efforts to persuade Margaash to return to his enclosure failed and as the animal was close to surrounding woodland and dark was approaching, the vet did not believe a tranquiliser dart was a safe option due to the amount of time the drug takes to work. "Safety of the public is always of paramount importance and our staff are highly experienced and rigorously trained." Margaash had been at Dudley Zoo since 2011. He fathered a snow leopard cub who also passed away at the zoo five years ago. Disciplinary procedures have taken place for those involved in Margaash's escape. The zoo's security measures are also in review. Snow leopards are an endangered species with as few as 4,000 left living in the wild. They can live for up to 22 years in captivity.