A CHEETAH escaped from a zoo and killed two deer in a neighbouring park.

The big cat scaled its enclosure fence, squeezing through a gap at the top, and chased the herd.

Two panicking deer ran into wooden railings — one died, the other had to be put down.

Keepers saw the deer scatter, realised male cheetah Saba had got into the fenced-off area and enticed him back into his enclosure.

But Howletts Wild Animal Park was blasted for not reporting the escape on October 12.

The zoo in Littlebourne, Kent, claims it only needs to notify authorities if an animal escapes into public areas.

But Canterbury council said: “The need to report incidents like this is explicit in the licence.”

It follows a cheetah escape last year at Port Lympne park in Kent.