Staff at Howletts wild animal park have reassured visitors safety was not jeopardised by the escape of a pack of wild dogs.

Eight Asiatic wild dogs, or dholes, got out of their enclosure last Wednesday by chewing along a bottom fence rail, releasing the interior mesh, before doing the same again to release the exterior door.

Keepers at the Bekesbourne park are reviewing health and safety procedures and replacing all wooden door systems with metal ones.

Animal director Neil Spooner stressed safety had not been jeopardised.

He said: “We’ve had these dogs in this enclosure since the 1970s without incident, so all I can say to reassure visitors is we’re learning the lessons from what happened and replacing all wooden door systems.”

See our video with Neil Spooner at the top of the page

Seven of the escaped dogs had to be shot, while another died after being hit by a train near Bekesbourne.

Mr Spooner admitted shooting the animals was a last resort: “It was quite frankly a dreadful decision, one which we didn’t take lightly.

“We tried to dart them, but the animals kept running beyond the darting equipment’s range, which is only around 20 to 30 metres.

“Once they began escaping from the park, we had to make the decision to euthanise, which was very sad, but necessary.”

Twelve of the dholes did not escape.

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