Dallas Zoo officials say the two male lions responsible for a deadly attack on a female lion will be brought back into the pride in a few days.
"For now, we're just taking it day by day, and monitoring their behavior," said Lynn Kramer, the Zoo's Vice President of Animal Operations. "But for now they're acting normally."
A necropsy performed late Sunday night confirmed that five-year-old Johari suffocated after being bitten in the throat by a male lion. The deadly attack was quick and bloodless, and Johari didn't scream. Many witnesses said they thought at the first the male lion was rough housing with Johari, but realized something was wrong when Johari's body went limp.
Lynn Kramer said only one of the two lions was involved in the attack, but there is no video looking into the habitat and zookeepers may never know for sure which one is responsible.
Kramer said the lions were making noises and were clearly agitated, but it's unclear what instigated the attack.
"I really would like to have an answer to that question," he said.
There are five lions in the pride at the Dallas Zoo, and they've been together for more than three years. The three lionesses were sisters, and the two males were brothers. They have lived peacefully the entire time.
"They have virtually been together every single day for three and a half years. We've seen scuffles and rough play once in a while but nothing that escalates like this," Kramer said.
The other two lionesses, Lina and Josiri, were back in the public habitat at the Giants of the Savanna exhibit Monday morning. They did not appear distressed.
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Dallas Zoo officials reached out to other zoos yesterday and they are monitoring the males in their separate enclosures for any signs of aggression. In a few days they expect the males to return to the pride.
"I think this is a very, very isolated incident and the chances of it occurring again would be very remote," Kramer said.
He added that the zookeepers are distraught and emotional over the incident.
The first few zoo visitors Monday morning were aware of the deadly attack from local news reports, and said it's a good lesson to their children to respect wildlife.
"It's scary knowing that it happened. They were together for three years, then all of a sudden it just happens. These are wild animals," said zoo visitor Steve Nelson.
