[Faline]

Families visiting a zoo were left in tears after lions ate an owl which had flown into their enclosure.

Ash the barn owl was taking part in a display with his handler when a lioness in the enclosure clubbed him out of the air.

Watching children screamed as a male lion then pounced and devoured the bird. Keepers rushed into the lion enclosure at Colchester Zoo, Essex, but could not save Ash.

The crowd was quickly moved on and the area closed to the public. Gavin Duthie, from Colchester, had been enjoying the owl display with his two-year-old son, Daniel. He said: "Daniel was in tears, along with most of the people there. Women and children were screaming. It was all over in seconds. But it's in the lion's nature — I have taught Daniel that lions are not fluffy animals.

"He was very upset, but we will be going back to the zoo again."

Alex Downing, of Colchester Zoo, said: "Everyone is extremely upset but there was nothing anyone could have done."

[luton loyal]

[johnleeknoefler]

Ah, but the "Circle of Life" did not mention that the Lion King eats his subjects.

[Brainplague]

I can surely empathize with the children watching..what a lesson!

[BlueNosePit]

wish there was a vid of this

[LadyPox]

Sad... I love owls.

[MrCorpse]

Lol stupid fucking owls

[Azimuth]

Oh well, it's sad in a way, but then again that's life. My younger kids (5 and 7) got to see the lions fucking one day when we went to the zoo, I wasn't expecting to have to explain that to them after such a pornographic display, but alas.

[fattubbashit]

Take the kid to an abattoir for a reality check!!

[Dynamo47]

I was hoping for photos or video as that would have been cool to see. People shouldn't be too shocked; it is a lion after all. They think because they cage them and feed them that it suppresses instinct.