Adult female lion posed danger to male cub

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We all know it happens in pro sports, but making trades is a part of the zoo world too. And that's just what's going on at the Magnetic Hill Zoo. Every year the zoo takes part in a program that exchanges various species so they may join unrelated animals for breeding programs and residence in other zoos.

Sadly, one of those leaving Moncton's zoo is long time resident Kito, the adult female lion who zoo officials had hoped would bond with two young lions brought to the zoo earlier this year.

That has not quite gone as planned however. While staff were optimistic at first, it quickly became apparent that Kito posed a physical threat to the male cub. They worked with a veterinarian and a number of measures were taken but no long term solution could be found.

As a result, and in the interest of the safety and well-being of all three lions under the Magnetic Hill Zoo's stewardship, Kito will be returning to her zoo of origin in Seagrave, Ontario.

"I have worked with lions for close to 40 years and this is the first time that I have experienced the situation that we have with these two individuals," Magnetic Hill Zoo general manager Bruce Dougan said. "It is felt by all involved that both Kito and Azizi would be best served by this resolution. Kito is a longtime resident of the zoo and we are sad to see her leave our family."

There are other swaps in the works. This year the Magnetic Hill Zoo is sending some common marmosets to Quebec and black and white ruffed lemurs to Ontario. The Zoo will also be welcoming a new male ring-tailed lemur from a zoo in Ontario, along with a male eastern black-and-white colobus monkey who will be joined by a female from another Canadian zoo in the future.