Deer fatally injured after jumping into lion's den

The Washington Post ^ | 11/08/2009 | Martin Weil

[raj bhatia]

A deer was fatally injured Sunday after jumping into a lion enclosure at the National Zoo, as visitors looked on.

[raj bhatia]

Check out the video.

[MarkeyD]

Darwin Award?

[cll]

Room service!

[mamelukesabre]

Usually is a dumb human that jumps in.

[raj bhatia]

LOL!

[freedumb2003]

It was interesting how the lion released and then almost just speedwalked to track the deer.

It was clearly a hunting “game” to the cat.

Too bad about the deer, but wild animals are first and foremost, animals.

[EternalVigilance]

Like a newbie FReeper in the Religion Forum.

[lastchance]

So now we know God does hear the prayer of a lion.

[clee1]

That’s what I was thinking.

[Impy]

Bet it made the lion’s day.

[clee1]

Hello, breakfast!

[cripplecreek]

Lots of small animals have been fatally injured when they enter my dog enclosure. Usually rabbits, squirrels and occasional muskrat.

[IrishPennant]

It’s not Digiorno, it’s delivery!!!

[redpoll]

No doubt this was the best day those lions have had in a very long time.

[T bench]

Aren’t ungulates supposed to lie with the lion at the second coming. Seriously, the dim messiah is present so this just does not make sense.

[Popman]

It would be interesting if the Lion actually ate the doe in front of the onlookers, I wonder how many would say the Lion murdered the doe and needed to be put down like a criminal

My guess it would be quite a few. All liberals

[briarbey b]

WOW..Lunch the old fashion way..ya catch it!! Kind of.

[wetgundog]

Venison.... its what’s for dinner!

[decimon]

Like a newbie FReeper in the Religion Forum.

Is that tearing asunder or eternal torment?

[Grizzled Bear]

Damn! Just Damn!

[JimRed]

Suppertime!

[EternalVigilance]

Tender Vittles for lions.

[johniegrad]

Like a newbie FReeper in the Religion Forum.

Funny but also sad.

[SIDENET]

The lion’s attorney declined comment.

[cynwoody]

Takeaways: (1) cats like to play with their prey and (2) cats don't like water.

A couple of years ago, a wild deer jumped into the Pittsburgh Zoo's polar bear pool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exzbRfVcdKQ

The bears chased it around but didn't eat it. However, it still needed to be euthanized due to injuries sustained.

[Verginius Rufus]

It's a baby deer. A blonde baby deer.

[Slings and Arrows]

Now my cats want one.

[TWohlford]

To quote that great theological treatise, “Animal House”....

“Thanks, God!”

[happinesswithoutpeace]

lol

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378567/posts

[Slings and Arrows]

GOOD Bruno!

[eclecticEel]

Lucky kitty.

Not that she knew what to do with it in any event. She just batted it around before letting it get away.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah.

[upstanding]

There are now quite a few DC weenies upset to have witnessed a slightly less sterile view of nature. Gotta love the leftist weenies who cheered when the mauled deer temporarily escaped - morons. Concerned for the cute little deer, with no realization that the thing was doomed and it would have been better for the deer if the lions could finish the job.

BTW, don't give the Washington Compost any traffic. The three videos are all here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CavVwhX7Fs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CbPzjhFY8Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnnv_wGiCOA

[mtrott]

Rush could use this for his “Animal Rights” update!

[metmom]

I wonder where the deer came from?

Was it from inside the zoo?

It’s not like the National Zoo is anywhere near wilderness or rural areas that the deer could have just wandered in.

[beaversmom]

Funny thing is, we went to the Denver Zoo today and my husband said they should tie up a goat in the lions' enclosure to make things a little more exciting for the spectators. Not that I would want to see that, but it was kind of a funny comment.

We didn't get to see a lion chasing a deer, but we did get to see a group of male ROP members in the bird house--kind of odd that no women and children were with them. After I saw one sitting there, they didn't appear to be with the others, with a laptop bag in his lap and a small earphone in his ear, I mentioned to my husband that we should try to make it through quickly.

We also saw a very tall male with a pony tail, sweater, lipstick, and tight purple spandex pants sauntering through the zoo. What would have been more entertaining would have been to see the reaction of the ROP members encountering the male in the spandex.

Unfortunately, I couldn't discreetly take the purple spandex guy's picture.

Anyway, sorry to hear about the deer. I wish he could have made it out safely.

[AndyJackson]

It’s not like the National Zoo is anywhere near wilderness or rural areas

The National Zoo is in Rock Creek park which is contiguous to several hundred miles of protected wilderness. Deer are an incredible nuisance, and across the street from the park we commonly have our own private herd of 10 munching away on our flowers and ornamental shrubs.

Astonishing, I know, but they have no wild predators so they breed out of control.

[fso301]

I not sure why the deer was rescued only to be killed when it could have been left to entertain the lion and paying visitors.

[AndyJackson]

It was a baby. Not much of a meal, actually, not quite like catching mamma.

[Fraxinus]

The National Zoo is in/next to Rock Creek park. Rock Creek park is heavily wooded and extends from well outside the beltway all the way to the Potomac river.

There are a lot of Deer in the DC Suburbs and I have seen seen browse damage within city limits.

[metmom]

Well, that just goes to show my knowledge of DC geography.

I was there only once in my life and since we came in by the main entrance, there was nothing that looked like protected anything that way.

Alrighty then......

[upstanding]

A slight correction: there are coyotes in Rock Creek Park, but not enough to make a difference. Oh, how I’d love to put up a stand in Rock Creek Park and do my part to thin the herds for you and your azaleas!

[skinkinthegrass]

*D@MMIT!*
"I ordered a Zebra...or at least an Wildebeest"
it seems the (lone) Lioness, Is somewhat "out of practice".

[dfwgator]

One of those ‘Circle of Life’ kind of things.

[AndyJackson]

there are coyotes in Rock Creek Park

A year ago or so I used to see them from time to time and would hear them howling away at night from my bedroom window. But they started attacking domestic dogs, and I think the Park Service has asked them to move along w/forced relocation when they don't comply. I have neither seen nor heard them recently.

[mikey_hates_everything]

The Zoo is free but they always want donations. I’d pay, or even become a “FONZ”, to see them throw a deer in the lion’s den every week. Those things are nothing but tick-infested giant rats.

[Born Conservative]

Just like our back yard...

[ApplegateRanch]

It would be interesting if the Lion actually ate the doe in front of the onlookers, I wonder how many would say the Lion murdered the doe and needed to be put down like a criminal

My guess it would be quite a few. All liberals

The same clueless lib Gaeia worshipping A-holes that donate to "reintroduce" wolves into the wild; and donate to ban mountain lion hunting; and donate to ban bear hunting; and, donate to ban... .

[rmlew]

People keep telling me that deer are smart and are just confused by bright lights. I just think that herbivores with small brains are dumb.
Pass the venison.

[Biggirl]

Not suprising, the deer was to the lions as a mouse is to a house cat.=^..^=