Denmark Woman Reveals Why She Donated Daughter's Pony To Feed Lions In Zoo
The woman, named Pernille Sohl, told The Times that in 2020, she decided that Chicago 57, a German riding pony, had to be put down.
While speaking to the outlet, she said she understood how the decision may sound "very dramatic and bizarre". However, the animals being sent to the zoo were "going to be put down anyway".
"But they are going to be put down anyway, and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators," Sohl added.
Sohl told the outlet that she runs a small farm in Assens, Denmark. Children with mental health issues visit the farm and spend time with horses.
Aalborg Zoo says it imitates the natural food chain for its predators, citing animal welfare and professional integrity. Donors receive a tax deduction of DKK100 (£11.60) for small animals and DKK5 (58p) per kilogram for larger animals like horses.
So far this year, the zoo has received 22 horses, 53 chickens, 137 rabbits, and 18 guinea pigs as donations.
Although Sohl did not receive any payment from Aalborg Zoo, she would get a tax rebate. Another woman, Helen Hjortholm Andersen, donated her Shetland pony, Paprika, to Jyllands Park Zoo due to high costs associated with removing a dead animal. She supports the idea of pets benefiting other animals.
Aalborg Zoo's Appeal
Recently, the zoo asked for "unwanted animals" such as chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. They said that the pet animals would be "gently euthanized" and then fed to carnivores.
"Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators - especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild," the zoo wrote.
"In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals - in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity," the post continued. "That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators."
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NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Denmark Woman Reveals Why She Donated Daughter's Pony To Feed Lions In Zoo
A 44-year-old Danish woman revealed that she once decided to donate her daughter's 22-year-old pony to Aalborg Zoo to be euthanised and fed to lions due to the pet's severe eczema and excruciating pain. Her comments came amid recent backlash against Aalborg Zoo after it asked people to donate small and healthy pets to be used as food for captive predators. The woman, named Pernille Sohl, told The Times that in 2020, she decided that Chicago 57, a German riding pony, had to be put down. While speaking to the outlet, she said she understood how the decision may sound "very dramatic and bizarre". However, the animals being sent to the zoo were "going to be put down anyway". "But they are going to be put down anyway, and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators," Sohl added. Sohl told the outlet that she runs a small farm in Assens, Denmark. Children with mental health issues visit the farm and spend time with horses. Aalborg Zoo says it imitates the natural food chain for its predators, citing animal welfare and professional integrity. Donors receive a tax deduction of DKK100 (£11.60) for small animals and DKK5 (58p) per kilogram for larger animals like horses. So far this year, the zoo has received 22 horses, 53 chickens, 137 rabbits, and 18 guinea pigs as donations. Although Sohl did not receive any payment from Aalborg Zoo, she would get a tax rebate. Another woman, Helen Hjortholm Andersen, donated her Shetland pony, Paprika, to Jyllands Park Zoo due to high costs associated with removing a dead animal. She supports the idea of pets benefiting other animals. Aalborg Zoo's Appeal Recently, the zoo asked for "unwanted animals" such as chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. They said that the pet animals would be "gently euthanized" and then fed to carnivores. "Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators - especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild," the zoo wrote. "In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals - in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity," the post continued. "That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators."
News18
a day ago
- News18
Danish Zoo Offers Tax Deduction For Donating ‘Unwanted' Pets To Feed Predators
A woman claims she gave her daughter's pony to Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, where it was 'gently euthanised' and fed to the zoo's predators. Aalborg Zoo in Denmark recently drew both attention and criticism after launching an unusual request: they want people to donate small, healthy pets to feed their carnivores. The zoo shared the appeal on Instagram, encouraging owners of chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs to give up unwanted animals, which would be 'gently euthanised" before being fed to predators like the Eurasian lynx. The zoo explained that these animals form an important part of the diet for some of their predators, especially the lynx, which needs whole prey similar to what it would hunt in the wild. 'In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals, in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity," the post said. They added that this approach ensures nothing goes to waste while promoting natural behaviour and nutrition among their animals. Woman Donates Daughter's Pony The program gained further attention when a woman revealed she had donated her daughter's pet pony to the zoo. Pernille Sohl, 44, told The Times she decided after the pony became ill. While acknowledging that the choice might seem shocking, she explained that many of the animals donated would be put down anyway. 'It might sound very dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo," she told The Times. 'But they are going to be put down anyway and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators," she added. How the Programme Works Aalborg Zoo staff confirmed the appeal has already resulted in donations of 22 horses, 18 guinea pigs, 53 chickens and 137 rabbits, as per the Indian Express. Donors receive a small tax deduction, DKK100 (£11.60) per small animal and DKK5 (about 58p) per kilogram for larger animals such as horses. Horses must also have a valid horse passport before they can be donated, the publication adds. The zoo emphasises that all animals are euthanised humanely by trained staff before being given to predators. Horses and other large donations are processed with their weight determining the tax benefit, the Indian Express also states. Feeding the Predators The diet of Aalborg Zoo's predators includes not only the Eurasian lynx but also lions and tigers. The zoo says offering whole prey helps mimic the animals' natural hunting habits, keeping them mentally stimulated and physically healthy. However, the appeal has sparked mixed reactions online. While some people support the idea as a way to give unwanted animals a purpose, others have strongly criticised it. A social media user even called it a 'sick invention" as per The Indian Express. The debate continues as more pet owners come forward, either in support of or against this controversial practice. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Worse than Nazis: German zoo staff get death threats for feeding baboons to lions
A German zoo has come under fire for feeding baboons to lions there. The Tiergarten Nuremberg culled the baboon population in the zoo, due to overcrowding in the enclosure. The Copenhagen Zoo, in 2014, killed an 18-month-old giraffe and fed it to lions. Image for representation(Pixabay) The zoo euthanized 12 baboons at the end of July and then fed some of the carcasses to lions housed there. The death threats started at this point. Some of the remains of the baboons were also used for research, Sky News reported, but the rest became food for the zoo's carnivores. When the zoo had initially announced plans to cull the baboon population, last year, when numbers exceeded 40, protesters gathered outside to express their outrage. Naturally, things have come to a boil with the news of these baboons being fed to the animals there. Zoo director defends move The zoo's director, Dr Dag Encke, defended the move, telling Sky News 'We love these animals. We want to save a species. But for the sake of the species, we have to kill individuals otherwise we are not able to keep up a population in a restricted area.' Also Read | Tiger and lion share rare cuddle in viral video, leaving viewers amazed by their unexpected bond He also shared that the police are investigating cases where he and his staff received death threats. 'The staff are really suffering, sorting out all these bad words, insults and threats,' Encke shared. Zoo staff get threats The zoo director shared that the normal threat is 'we will kill you, and we'll feed you to the lions'. However, he took umbrage to the Nazi parallels being drawn. 'But what is really disgusting is when they say that's worse than Dr Mengele from the National Socialists, who was one of the most cruel people in human history. That is really insulting all the victims of the Second World War and the Nazi regime,' he said. Josef Mengele, who got the moniker Angel of Death, was a Nazi officer known for conducting deadly experiments on prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. However, this is not the first zoo to cull animals. The Copenhagen Zoo, in 2014, killed an 18-month-old giraffe and fed it to lions, to avoid inbreeding. In July, this year, a Denmark zoo courted controversy when it sought unwanted pets, so it could feed the predators hosted there.
