ERIE, Pa.: A male leopard killed a female leopard after workers at a zoo put them together in an off-exhibit area in hopes they would mate.
The Erie Times News (http://bit.ly/1dMRgkB ) reports the attack occurred Monday at the Erie Zoo.
The zoo’s executive director, Scott Mitchell, says the 5-year-old male, Edgar, killed a 7-year-old female, Lina.
Mitchell says the female cat was in heat at the time of the attack, and that the zoo’s staff is at a loss to explain it. The animals had been paired in the past without incident.
Mitchell says his staff is devastated.
He says a veterinarian and other staff were present, and they separated the animals.
The male will continue to be on exhibit.