A tragic event unfolded at Bellewaerde Park in Belgium when a male lion fatally attacked a female lioness during their first face-to-face meeting for a breeding program.
The incident left zoo staff in shock as they witnessed the lion tear out the lioness’s throat.
The male lion, Nestor, had recently been transferred from Antwerp Zoo to Bellewaerde Park as part of an effort to breed endangered species. He was meant to mate with two Czech lionesses, Maya and Numa.
To help them get accustomed to one another, the animals were kept behind bars for several days, during which zookeepers observed no signs of aggression.
On Thursday, zoo officials decided letting Nestor and two-year-old Maya meet without a barrier was safe. Initially, the introduction appeared to be going well. However, tensions quickly escalated, and the lions became aggressive.
“They started fighting, and Nestor bit Maya in the throat,” zoo spokesperson Filip Van Dorpe explained to local media. Despite efforts to intervene, the lioness did not survive the attack.
Zoo staff expressed their deep sorrow following the tragic event. “This is very unfortunate. Even in captivity, wild animals can behave this way, just as they would in nature. Everyone at Bellewaerde is devastated,” said Van Dorpe.
Nestor had only recently left Antwerp Zoo, where he was well known for his gentle demeanor with his previous partner, Tasa, and their cubs. Antwerp Zoo spokesperson Ilse Segers shared the shock felt by her staff upon hearing the news.
“We all reacted with disbelief. Nestor had never shown any signs of aggression in the past,” she said, recalling that Nestor had been a bit shy when he was younger but later became more confident.
There will be a waiting period before Nestor is introduced to other lionesses, and the breeding program will continue, though Nestor will remain in his enclosure for now.
The incident serves as a somber reminder of the unpredictability of wild animals, even in controlled environments.
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