Denmark zoo sparks outrage for asking public to donate pets, and even horses for feeding tigers and lions
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark is seeking donations of small pets and horses to feed its predators, aiming to replicate a natural diet for the animals' well-being. Donated animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens, are humanely euthanized before feeding. Horses are also accepted under specific health and size conditions, potentially offering donors a tax deduction.
TIL Creatives Aalborg Zoo in Denmark sparks outrage for asking the public to donate small pets and horses to feed tigers and lions as part of their wild-style predator diet program. Aalborg Zoo, located in northern Denmark, has asked the public to donate unwanted small pets or horses to feed their big predators like tigers and lions. The zoo explained that in captivity, they try to copy the natural food chain to keep the animals healthy and behave naturally.They said feeding predators whole animals, just like in the wild, is important for animal welfare and professional care. The zoo said animals like chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs are important in the predators' diet, as stated by CBS News report.
ALSO READ: Tim Cook reveals shocking shift in how Americans are buying Apple products this yearPeople who have healthy small animals they can't keep anymore are encouraged to donate them to the zoo. The donated animals are humanely euthanized by trained staff before being used as food. This process makes sure nothing is wasted and helps the predators stay natural and healthy. The zoo accepts donations of rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens only on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. They limit donations to no more than four animals at a time to manage care properly. The zoo also accepts horses as food donations for their animals, as per the report by CBS News.
Horses donated to the zoo are euthanized by both a zookeeper and a veterinarian to make sure it is done properly. There are rules for horses: they must not have been treated for any illness for at least one month before donation. Donated horses must also follow size limits, and must be in a condition safe for transportation.ALSO READ: Sin City in crisis? Las Vegas locals 'Freaking Out' as tourists vanish from the strip
Because the horses are donations, people who give them can receive a tax deduction based on the horse's value. The zoo said their needs for donated animals change throughout the year, so sometimes there could be a waiting list before they can accept more donations, as mentioned in the report by CBS News.
Q1. Why is Aalborg Zoo asking for pet donations?
Aalborg Zoo wants to feed predators like tigers and lions with whole animals to copy their natural diet in the wild.
Q2. What animals does Aalborg Zoo accept as donations for food?
The zoo accepts chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even horses, if they meet health and transport rules.
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First Post
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- First Post
Pets on the menu? Why Denmark zoo wants you to donate animals
A zoo in northern Denmark has asked the public to hand over unwanted pets, not for adoption, but to feed its carnivores. Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs were listed as key parts of the predators' diet. The zoo also said it would accept a horse if certain conditions are met. The request, made on social media, drew strong reactions online, with some criticising it and others supporting the move as a way to maintain natural feeding habits read more Aalborg Zoo has listed guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as animals they can accept. AI-Generated/Representational Image A zoo in northern Denmark has requested the public to give up unwanted pets, not to adopt them, but to feed its carnivores. Aalborg Zoo has listed guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as animals they can accept. These will be put down and then used as food for the predators, the zoo said. ALSO READ | Why Australian zoo is facing backlash over putting down lions with a 'remarkable' bond It also said it will accept horses under 147cm in height, provided they have a pet passport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The post met with strong reactions online. Some people have criticised the idea of using pets as food, while others have supported the move, saying it helps preserve natural feeding habits. So, what reason has the zoo given for asking people to hand over their pets? Let's take a look: Why Denmark zoo wants people to donate pets to feed predators On its website, Aalborg Zoo said the animals would be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff before being offered as food. Notably, the zoo accommodates predators such as the Asiatic lion, European lynx and Sumatran tiger. It explained that it wants to use donated pets to 'imitate the natural food chain of the animals.' It named chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs as key parts of the predators' diet. The post, which included a photo of a snarling lynx, also said the zoo would 'gratefully' accept live horses, as long as they meet the conditions. It added that 'nothing goes to waste' and invited pet owners to learn more through a web link, shown with an image of a tiger eating raw meat, which details how the pet euthanasia scheme works. Pia Nielsen, deputy director of Aalborg Zoo, was quoted as saying by The Guardian: '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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way. In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses.' It named chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs as key parts of the predators' diet. Pixabay/Representational Image Rules for animal donations Aalborg Zoo has set clear guidelines for those wishing to donate animals. Guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens are accepted on weekdays, with a limit of four animals per donor at a time. For horses, the zoo has listed specific conditions on its website: The horse must have a valid passport It must be in a safe condition for transport The height of the horse must not exceed about 58 inches (147cm) It should not have been treated for any illness in the last 30 days This is not the first time Danish zoos have faced criticism over how they manage animal feeding and population control. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo put down a healthy giraffe named Marius to prevent inbreeding. Despite protests and a petition, the zoo went ahead with the decision. The giraffe's remains were used for research and to feed predators like lions, tigers and leopards. ALSO READ | What does it take to relocate 50 African elephants? Fascinating images from Kenya zoo have the answer How netizens reacted to the post The zoo's recent social media post has drawn strong reactions. One user called it 'a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark,' while another said, 'feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking to Popular Science, a zoo spokeswoman said that staff at Aalborg Zoo 'have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock' for many years. However, some responses were supportive. Several Facebook users appreciated the initiative and asked how they could donate their animals. The zoo accommodates predators such as the Asiatic lion, European lynx and Sumatran tiger. Pixabay/Representational Image One person shared their own story of giving away a rabbit, describing the experience as 'super nice and professional.' Signe Flyvholm, a Denmark resident who has been visiting the zoo for 40 years, told The New York Times the post encouraged her to offer her horse. 'She could make a difference by being used as food… She is a very loved horse,' she said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Denmark zoo asks people to donate healthy pets to feed predators
A zoo in Denmark has made international headlines with a morbid appeal to visitors. In posts shared on Facebook and Instagram, the zoo asked pet owners to donate their unwanted guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and horses so they could be fed to predators. A zoo in Denmark has appealed for healthy, unwanted pets that can be euthanized to feed its predators (Aalborg Zoo) The Aalborg Zoo added a caveat: the pets must be healthy. With this initiative, the zoo said it was trying to imitate the natural food chain of the animals – something that all zoos have a responsibility to do, it said. Denmark zoo's appeal 'Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators,' Aalborg Zoo explained in its Instagram post. It added that food provided this way would be reminiscent of what the predators would 'naturally hunt in the wild' – especially the Eurasian lynx, which 'needs whole prey.' 'If you have a healthy animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us,' it added in its appeal. The zoo said that donated pets would be gently euthanised and then used as fodder. 'That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,' it concluded. Appeal sparks debate According to a CNN report, the Aalborg Zoo is home to predators like the Asiatic lion, European lynx and Sumatran tiger. Its appeal, however, has drawn mixed reactions on social media. Some people objected to the idea of pets being used as prey. Others felt there was nothing wrong with it as unwanted pets are abandoned every day, and this way they would at least be euthanized humanely.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Danish Zoo Asks People To Donate Their 'Unwanted' Pets To Feed Predators
A zoo in Denmark has made a public appeal to pet owners to donate their unwanted guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and even horses to feed its predators. The Aalborg Zoo said it was attempting to replicate the natural food chain for its carnivores. It encouraged people to hand over animals to be euthanised and fed to predators inside the facility. Sharing a picture of an open-mouthed lynx on Instagram, the zoo wrote, "Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators - especially in the European locust, which needs whole prey, which is reminiscent of what it would naturally 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 zoo added, "If you have an animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanised by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aalborg Zoo (@aalborgzoo) The zoo's public plea has sparked a lively debate on the internet. While some are applauding its attempts to preserve natural feeding practices, others are objecting to the concept of making pets into prey. One user wrote, "A deeply perverse and degrading mindset that is behind this sick invention, which has spread a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark and this only supports this sad underdevelopment. Imagine giving away your pet/animal as fodder, it hardly gets more disrespectful and unworthy than that." Another added, "I took a horse to the zoo a few years ago, it was the most peaceful and calm way it happened." In a statement to The Guardian, Pia Nielsen, deputy director of Aalborg zoo, said, "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 euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way. In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses," she added. Last week, A zoo in Nuremberg, Germany, came under scrutiny after it culled 12 healthy Guinea baboons due to overcrowding in their enclosure. The zoo allegedly fed them to the lions in front of the public.
