Protests erupt after Germany zoo culls 12 baboons, feeds them to predators; 7 arrested
The Tiergarten Nürnberg zoo said the decision was made as the baboon population had grown beyond capacity, leading to an 'increase in conflicts' among the primates. No viable alternative for re-housing the animals could be found, according to the zoo. The Guinea baboon enclosure, completed in 2009, was designed to house a maximum of 25 animals. However, the population had exceeded 40 in recent years, a BBC report said.
The zoo had initially announced plans to reduce the baboon population last year. It also stated that other zoos that had previously accepted baboons had reached full capacity, and that contraception efforts had failed to control breeding.
Zoo director Dag Encke defended the decision, saying it followed 'yearslong consideration' and met the standards set by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Encke said that culling can be 'a legitimate last resort to preserve the population', the BBC report quoted Encke as saying.
The baboons that were killed were not pregnant females nor involved in any scientific studies, the report confirmed. The animals were shot, samples were taken for research, and their carcasses were then used as food for other zoo predators.
The move prompted immediate backlash. On Tuesday morning, the zoo temporarily closed for 'operational reasons,' which triggered protests. Seven animal rights activists were arrested after climbing over the zoo's fence. One woman glued her hands to the ground near the entrance in protest.
Animal rights organisations have condemned the zoo's actions. A spokesperson for Pro Wildlife called the decision 'avoidable and illegal.' The BBC report quoted the spokesperson as saying, 'Healthy animals had to be killed because the zoo maintained irresponsible and unsustainable breeding policies for decades.'
The incident has renewed scrutiny on European zoos, which have previously faced criticism for culling animals.
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