Photographer Snapped Shots of Lion Confrontation at Zoo Days Before Deadly Attack

Dallas Zoo officials are looking at guest's pictures for clues as to why two male lions attacked and killed a lioness over the weekend.

Kathy Bezold, of Keller, snapped pictures of a confrontation between the lions last week while at the zoo with her Tarrant County College photography class.

"I was just taking pictures like crazy, then, all of a sudden, whoa," she said.

Bezold said one of the lionesses approached two male lions as they were lying down. When the female lion tried to playfully paw and nip at one of the lions, another male lion stood up and acted aggressively toward her.

"While they're having their confrontation, I'm thinking, 'OK, buddy, what are you going to do to her?" Bezold said.

When the male lion stood up, the female lion left the perch, but not before Bezold snapped a pic of a male lion standing over the female lion, staring at her and growling, their faces inches apart.

"I mean, that stare -- it's just scary," she said. "It's a very penetrating stare."

Days later, two male lions killed a 5-year-old lioness named Johari. Animal experts still don’t know why.

The pride at the Dallas Zoo had five lions that lived together for more than three years. The three lionesses were sisters, and the two male lions are brothers.

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