A TIGER has been shot dead after escaping from its compound at Howletts wild animal park at Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Sariska, a four-year-old Indian tiger, got out of her enclosure before the park had opened to the public.

An anonymous source said the animal had jumped over its compound fence. Staff at Howletts could not confirm this. A spokesman said that a decision was made by the director on site to kill the tiger in the interests of safety.

The official said: "A tranquiliser can take up to 15 minutes before working and the tiger was moving to an open area. An investigation is underway as to how she escaped. Meanwhile the other tiger in the enclosure has been moved. The whole situation was contained very quickly."

The incident has been reported to Canterbury council, as the zoo licencing authority. The escape is the latest in a series of incidents involving Howletts' tigers. In 1969 Merilyn Lamb had her arm badly mauled by one of the big cats. The following year 12-year-old Robin Birley suffered head injuries when he was clawed.

In 1980 two keepers were killed by the same tiger, Zeya - Brian Stocks, 29, in August and Bob Wilson, 28, in September. In 1992 two tigers escaped. In 1994 the tigers claimed another victim. The killing of 32-year-old keeper Trevor Smith by Balkash triggered a two-year legal battle between Howletts' late owner, millionaire John Aspinall, and the council over a proposal to ban keepers from cages.