Leia The Lioness To Be Introduced To New Pride

BALTIMORE (WJZ) – The Maryland Zoo is preparing to say goodbye to the young lioness Leia, who along with her sibling Luke, was born here in Maryland in October 2013.

Leia will be joining a new pride of lions at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.

"It's a bittersweet moment for us at the Zoo," said Don Hutchinson, president and CEO of the Maryland Zoo. "Watching Luke and Leia grow and thrive under the care of our animal care staff has been enormously rewarding."

The pride at the Cameron Park Zoo consists of an older female lion, 17-year-old Shamfa and 3-year-old male Kaikane.

Mammal collection and conservation manager Carey Ricciardone said the move was recommended by the Association of Zoos and aquariums (AZA) and the African Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP).

"Our colleagues have a lot of experience with lions, and we know that she will be well cared for there," said Ricciardone. "We hope that visitors to the Cameron Park Zoo come to know her well, as she is usually very interested in what people are doing when they visit her here."

The move comes at a time when Leia is beginning to mature, and officials say she needs to be placed in an unrelated pride of lions.