OKLAHOMA CITY — Vets at the Oklahoma zoo were downright baffled after one of their female charges began to grow a very distinctly male feature.<br /><br />A blog post from the Oklahoma Zoo reports that after spending 18 normal years as a fierce female, Bridget the African lioness suddenly began sprouting a manly mane, that by November had already resembled Santa's beard. <br /><br />Curiously, the luscious locks didn't seem to be contagious, and hadn't come with any behavioral changes.<br /><br />Maned lionesses aren't unheard of, but usually the extra testosterone feeding the mane of glory also gives them increased aggression and male mating behaviors. In one case, a lioness named Emma's full mane growth was attributed to testosterone-producing ovaries, which when taken out caused the mane to disappear.<br /><br />Bridget's zoo has taken a blood sample to figure out if it's a testosterone issue. Though it's also possible she has a benign tumor on the adrenal or pituitary gland.<br /><br />In any case, her handlers aren't too worried, since the extra hair doesn't seem to be affecting their big girl's health.
