Zookeepers at Antwerp Zoo have reacted with shock at the news that a male lion that they had cared for for many years has killed a lioness at the Bellewaerde animal and theme park in Ieper (West Flanders). It was just a couple of weeks ago that “Lion King” Nestor left Antwerp Zoo to start a new life in West Flanders. It had been hoped that Nestor would breed with the lioness Maya.
Zookeepers at Antwerp Zoo in shock after “Lion King” Nestor bites lioness to death at Bellewaerde Park
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However, things haven’t quite gone to plan and on Thursday Nestor bit Maya to death during a fight. Maya had been brought to West Flanders from a zoo in the Czech Republic as part of a breading programme.
Having only said goodbye to Nestor just a couple of weeks ago the zookeepers at Antwerp Zoo have fond memories of the lion. The zoo’s spokeswoman Ilse Segers says that the news that Nestor has killed his intended mating partner has been met with sorrow and shock. “We all have reacted with complete disbelief”.
Nestor was born at Antwerp Zoo and had never been aggressive in all the years that he was kept there.
Ms Segers told VRT News that "When he was born he was little on the shy side, but since then he has really opened up. He was always gentle with his cubs and with his former partner Tasa. You did have to leave him alone while he was eating though. He didn’t want anyone near him then”.
Despite Thursday’s incident Nestor will remain at Bellewaerde Park for the foreseeable future.