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A lion in a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas: Even after the incident, Nestor should be allowed to stay in his zoo for the time being
Photo: LM Otero / AP
They were probably not a match: In a Belgian zoo, a lion bitten a lioness with whom he was supposed to mate to death on first contact.
Nestor recently moved from the zoo in Antwerp to the West Flemish city of Ypres as part of a program for endangered species.
There, in Bellewaerde Park, the 12-year-old was supposed to mate with two Czech lionesses: two-year-old Maya and one-year-old Numa.
According to De Telegraaf, the three animals first had to get to know each other and get used to each other's smells behind bars.
According to animal keepers, there was no aggressive behavior.
After a few days it was decided to let Nestor and Maya into the outdoor enclosure together.
The mood there quickly changed.
"They started fighting and Nestor bit Maya in the neck," said Bellewaerde spokesman Filip Van Dorpe.
Both the attempt to bring Nestor back to his enclosure and the attempt to save Maya failed.
According to Van Dorpe, the zoo's employees are devastated.
Nestor will remain in his enclosure in Ypres for the time being.
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