The incident, which zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said was highly unusual, began just before 3 p.m. as visitors watched two female lions, the news outlet reported.

"Everyone was cheering, 'Go, go, go'” to encourage the deer to reach safety, witness Josh Shpayher said. "Everyone was rooting for the deer."

Witnesses told reporters that the doe was “clutched, clawed or swatted” by the two lions over the course of about 20 minutes.

Witness Rob Ephraim said the deer “ran between people” and fell into the water-filled moat inside the enclosure. One of the lions jumped in after the animal.

As the episode neared its end, one lion dragged the deer to a stairwell area. The doe broke free and bounded toward the moat, the lion in pursuit.

A short video showing part of the incident, shot by Ephraim and Christy Smethers, shows the breaking away from one of the cats, being chased across the enclosure and diving into the moat. The lion paces on the edge of the moat as the deer swims near the far wall.

The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/crossmax1084#p/a/u/1/2CbPzjhFY8Q.

Zoo personnel finally cleared visitors, coaxed the lions into the enclosure’s indoors cages and anesthetized the deer.

Baker-Masson said an evaluation of the deer showed it was “pretty evident” the deer wouldn’t survive, so the doe was euthanized.

But Baker-Masson said an examination indicated that, besides head and neck scratches, the deer had a serious wound on its belly.