VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A lion pounced on and killed a trained golden eagle in front of spectators at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.

A zoo visitor who saw the incident, Pablo Su, said crows were harassing the eagle on Friday as it sat on a log. That attracted the attention of two approaching lions.

The eagle, part of the zoo’s raptor show, managed to fly away.

But “the third lioness was almost anticipating that move and was waiting,” Su said. “As the eagle swooped down to pick up speed, the third lioness just chased it down and pounced on it.”

One of the eagle’s trainers screamed at the lion, but despite her best efforts, the bird died.

Gary Worley, master falconer at the zoo, said he was mourning the bird’s death but accepts that animals have natural instincts.

“That’s what lions do; this is the circle of life,” he said. “She’s a bird, and they’re big cats, and we all know what cats do with birds.”