Endangered Jaguar shot dead at Olympic torch ceremony

'Juma' the jaguar, a stately-looking animal that was part of the Olympic torch ceremony in Manaus, Brazil, was shot dead shortly after the event as it attempted to escape from its handlers.

The endangered animal was put down at a zoo near a a military training center where the ceremony was conducted.

As the creature, which had been tranquilized, advanced towards the soldier, it was killed by a single pistol shot.

"We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. This image goes against our beliefs and our values," the local organizing committee Rio 2016 said in a statement.

"We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016," the committee added.

The mascot of the Brazilian Olympics team is 'Ginga', a smiling yellow jaguar.