Aalborg Zoo in Denmark asked the public to donate healthy small pets to feed its carnivores, sparking widespread criticism.
In a Facebook post, Aalborg Zoo in Denmark asked people to donate their pets to feed its captive carnivores. The zoo explained that smaller pets such as rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs are part of the predators’ diet. The zoo said in the post, “The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and then used as food. This way, nothing goes to waste–and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being of our predators.”
On its website, the zoo has a brief on horse donations to feed its animals. It says the zoo euthanizes and slaughters horses year-round. The horses must be in healthy condition and must not have been treated for any diseases in the preceding 30 days of donation. Donations are tax-deductible. “We also accept chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., but no more than four at a time. If you want to donate several animals at once, please contact us to make an appointment for delivery.”
That post did not go over well. People called it unacceptable to feed pets to zoo animals. After hundreds of comments and international attention, the zoo closed its comment section and said it is happy to offer answers via email. “We understand that the post arouses emotions and interest, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary–and we encourage you to maintain a good tone.”
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In a statement to CNN, Deputy Director Pia Nielsen said it is common practice in Denmark. “For many years at Aalborg Zoo, we have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock. When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones, etc., to give them as natural a diet as possible. Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanized for various reasons to be of use in this way.”
Zoo Practices
It may be controversial, but zoos also kill their own animals and feed them to predators to prevent overcrowding and inbreeding. Every year, 3,000 to 5,000 animals are culled in European zoos to manage animal populations, according to the EAZA. However, public dismay doesn’t abate; zoos are always criticized for failing to take contraceptive measures and using harmful breeding practices.
Last month, a German zoo also culled 12 guinea baboons and fed them to predators despite protests from activists. The Nuremberg Zoo closed its premises and later confirmed that the baboons were killed due to overcrowding. It also explained that the measure was taken after careful consideration and was in line with the rules set by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
A Norweigian zoo drew flak after it killed a zebra in 2016 and fed it to tigers in front of an audience, including children. The zoo confirmed that it had too many of the species and that it was normal for a tiger to eat its prey. It was reported at the time that it feeds 80 zebras or similar animals to its predators annually.
A similar incident was also reported in the Danish capital of Copenhagen in 2014, when a zoo euthanized a young giraffe to prevent inbreeding. There was a petition to stop the action, but the furor did not change the fate of young Marius. In addition, the zoo broadcast live the postmortem of the giraffe, which was decapitated and fed to lions. Weeks later, the same zoo killed four healthy lions to make room for a new male. The zoo tried to place them elsewhere, but there was no interest. The EAZA defended Copenhagen Zoo, saying that it hadn’t broken any code of conduct and that it maintained the natural cycle of reproduction. “While EAZA regrets the death of the animals in question, we recognize the right of Copenhagen Zoo to humanely cull them in line with their policies.”