Apparently agitated over separation from its female partner, a zoo lion attacked a lioness and killed her in their enclosure.
Ayush pounced upon Renuka and bit hard on her neck while the lions were left in the enclosure close to their iron cages yesterday, zoo officials said.
Though the zoo keepers rushed and gave first aid to Renuka, the lioness succumbed to her injuries there itself.
Ayush and its partner Aiswarya were brought here from Chennai zoo six months back. Aiswarya had become pregnant and had given birth to two cubs a month back.
On the eve of the delivery, the lioness was separated from Ayush and kept in another cage.
However, Ayush had been showing signs of irritation, apparently due to loneliness, for the last few days and vent its ire on Renuka, the officials said.