Veterinarians research mane growth in Oklahoma zoo lionessFebruary 26, 2018Bridget, an 18-year-old lioness at the Oklahoma City Zoo, has left veterinarians most curious about the mane she grew from March to November last year. Male lions develop their manes at about 1 year of age as a result of increased testosterone production. While female lions growing manes is rare, it's not unheard of, according to zoo officials. Mike Briggs, DVM, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan veterinary advisor, spotted a female lion in Africa with a mane similar in appearance to Bridget's. In 2011, a 13-year-old lioness at the National Zoo in South Africa began developing a mane. An issue with her ovaries resulted in excess testosterone production and once that was resolved, the mane receded. A group of five lionesses in the wilderness of Botswana were observed with manes in 2014. Because these lions came from the same pride and developed the manes at a young age, researchers believe a genetic component in this population resulted in this characteristic. Veterinary staff and caretakers drew blood from Bridget's tail and are currently awaiting results. A potential condition causing the mane growth could be a benign tumor located …
SPONSORED CONTENTTest Match: Two Anti-Itch Drugs Face OffReducing pruritis is critical to enhancing quality of life for both patients and their people, hence the ongoing search for effective treatments. Ilunocitinib, a recently FDA-approved Janus kinase inhibitor, gave a powerful performance in a head-to-head match-up with Apoquel®. +
