
Woman donated daughter's pet pony to be fed to animals in Denmark Zoo; has no regrets
In a now-viral Facebook post, the Denmark zoo asked for 'unwanted animals' such as chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, stating they would be 'gently euthanized' and then fed to carnivores like the European lynx.
"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."
Woman Donates Daughter's Pony
Now, a story has emerged of a woman who claims she donated her daughter's pony to the zoo.
Pernille Sohl, 44, told The Times that she made the decision after the pony became ill. She admitted the move may seem shocking but animals being sent to the zoo were 'going to 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 outlet. 'But they are going to be put down anyway and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators.'
Also Read: Ensuring animal welfare is crucial to prevent zoonotic diseases
Donations Pour In
According to Aalborg Zoo staff, the appeal has already resulted in donations of 22 horses, 18 guinea pigs, 53 chickens, and 137 rabbits.
As part of the program, donors receive a DKK100 (£11.60) tax deduction per small animal, and DKK5 (about 58p) per kilogram for larger animals like horses.

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NDTV
14 hours 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
15 hours 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
19 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Woman donated daughter's pet pony to be fed to animals in Denmark Zoo; has no regrets
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark sparked backlash last week after it posted an appeal encouraging people to donate small, healthy pets to be used as food for captive predators. A woman claims she donated her daughter's pony to Aalborg Zoo in Denmark.(UnSplash) In a now-viral Facebook post, the Denmark zoo asked for 'unwanted animals' such as chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, stating they would be 'gently euthanized' and then fed to carnivores like the European lynx. "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." Woman Donates Daughter's Pony Now, a story has emerged of a woman who claims she donated her daughter's pony to the zoo. Pernille Sohl, 44, told The Times that she made the decision after the pony became ill. She admitted the move may seem shocking but animals being sent to the zoo were 'going to 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 outlet. 'But they are going to be put down anyway and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators.' Also Read: Ensuring animal welfare is crucial to prevent zoonotic diseases Donations Pour In According to Aalborg Zoo staff, the appeal has already resulted in donations of 22 horses, 18 guinea pigs, 53 chickens, and 137 rabbits. As part of the program, donors receive a DKK100 (£11.60) tax deduction per small animal, and DKK5 (about 58p) per kilogram for larger animals like horses.