Mane man: Thor the lion has vasectomy in Dutch zoo

Prolific breeder could overpopulate gene pool if allowed to father more cubs

Thor undergoes a vasectomy operation at Burger's Zoo in Arnhem. Reuters

A lion has had a vasectomy at a Netherlands zoo after his keepers decided he had sired enough cubs.

Thor, 11, fathered five cubs with two lionesses in the past year, staff at Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem said.

Veterinarian Henk Luten said it was the first time in his 35-year career at the zoo that he had carried out the procedure on a lion.

"Why are we doing it? Because he's a proven breeder," Dr Luten said.

"We have a lot of offspring and we don't want to have him overpopulating the genetic pool."

Staff said they chose a vasectomy over castration, which could have caused Thor to lose his mane, along with his standing in the pride's hierarchy.

Five staff had to lift the heavy sedated lion on to the operating table in the zoo's clinic.

Thor the lion had sired five cubs in a year. Reuters