Lion rips out lionesses’ throats in front of shocked Belgian zoo staff as animals are introduced to breeding program
- Nestor, 12, was initially intended to mate with two Czech lionesses
- He had recently moved from the Antwerp Zoo to Bellewaerde Park, Belgium
- Antwerp Zoo officials said Nestor had never shown signs of aggression
During their first introduction to a zoo breeding program on Thursday, a lion ripped out a lioness’ throat in front of horrified staff watching.
Male Nestor and female Maya were used to each other’s scent from behind bars in the Belgian Bellewaerde Park.
Nestor, also known as ‘Lion King’, had recently moved from Antwerp Zoo to Ypres in West Flanders as part of a breeding program for endangered species.
The 12-year-old predator was initially planned to mate with two Czech lionesses, sisters Maya (two) and Numa (one).
The three wild animals were given a few days to adjust to each other’s presence from behind a barrier, and zookeepers reportedly saw no signs of aggression between the lions.
Nestor, also known as ‘Lion King’, ripped out the throat of his intended mating partner Maya at Bellewaerde Park Zoo in Belgium on Thursday
Maya and Nestor were part of a breeding program for endangered species
The staff then decided on Thursday that it was time to let Nestor and Maya out together, without bars between the two.
According to the zoo, everything went smoothly when the two cats came face to face for the first time.
But this quickly changed when the lions started showing signs of aggression.
“They started fighting and Nestor bit Maya in the throat,” spokesperson Filip Van Dorpe told local media.
Zookeepers tried to save the injured lioness, but it was too late.
“A distress signal that Nestor manages to return to his shelter could no longer help,” he added.
Van Dorpe expressed his disappointment about the incident, calling it ‘very unfortunate’.
‘They remain wild animals, and of course that also happens in nature.
‘We deeply regret this, everyone in Bellewaerde is devastated. We went from pride to sadness in one day.”
After saying goodbye to Nestor only a few weeks ago, the zookeepers at the Antwerp Zoo still have fond memories of the lion, reported VRT News.
Zoo spokeswoman Ilse Segers said the news that Nestor killed his intended mating partner was received with sadness and shock.
“We all reacted with complete disbelief.”
Nestor was born at the Antwerp Zoo and according to staff there he had never shown signs of aggression.
Segers told VRT News: ‘He was a bit shy at birth, but since then he has really opened up.
‘He was always gentle with his cubs and with his former partner Tasa. You had to leave him alone while he was eating. He didn’t want anyone near him at the time.’
Local media reports that there will now be a waiting period before Nestor is introduced to other lionesses.
He will also remain in the enclosure and the breeding program is expected to continue.