Pack of African wild dogs slaughter 16 sheep and deer after escaping their safari park enclosure

A PACK of African wild dogs escaped from a safari park enclosure and savaged 16 of the zoo’s sheep and deer.

Keepers were devastated when they arrived to find the “absolute bloodbath” of ten Persian deer and six Barbary sheep.

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They were killed after a gate separating the 12 dogs from their prey had blown down at the height of Storm Ciara on Saturday night.

Tearful workers ushered the killer beasts back into their enclosure and did their best to clear up before visitors arrived at 10am on Sunday.

An insider told The Sun: “Everybody was absolutely devastated when they discovered the enclosure littered with dead and dying sheep and deer.

“There was blood everywhere, an absolute bloodbath. The dogs had rushed in and caused chaos as soon as they spotted the damaged gate.

“The keepers had shut down the enclosure for the night and gone home.

“They had no idea until they returned on Sunday morning.”

There was blood everywhere, an absolute bloodbath. The dogs had rushed in and caused chaos as soon as they spotted the damaged gate.

The wild dogs killed every animal in the enclosure apart from one deer and a sheep.

Staff are now working to reinforce the gate and fencing ahead of Storm Dennis, which is due to hit Britain this weekend.

Among those killed at West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley, Worcs, were three Barbary sheep born in March last year and a Persian deer born in June.

The African dog — which can reach speeds of 44mph — is critically endangered, with only 5,000 remaining in the wild.

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Bosses have launched an investigation but have no plans to change the way the dogs are cared for.

A West Midland Safari Park spokesman said: “Given their personal attachment to our animals, our staff are extremely saddened.”

In 2012, one of the African wild dogs managed to escape and ran into the lion enclosure where it was mauled to death.

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