Denmark zoo asks people to donate unwanted pets as food for its predators
Aalborg zoo in North Jutland published the unusual appeal on Facebook and its website.
The post says they can take smaller live animals such as chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, which are "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."
It explains that if people have animals that need to be removed "for various reasons", they can bring a maximum of four small species at once.
The animals are euthanised by trained staff and then used as food.
"In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the animals' natural food chain - for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity," the post continues. "Nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators."
The zoo says it will also take horses which are less than 147cm tall and have a pet passport.
It is not unheard of for animals which die in a zoo or are culled from local healthy populations to be fed to predators.
In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo caused controversy by euthanising an 18-month-old male giraffe called Marius and feeding his body to the lions.
At the time, the zoo said it was due to a duty to avoid inbreeding. An online petition with thousands of signatures failed to save him.
In 2023, Leipzig Zoo slaughtered a 15-year-old zebra and fed the carcass to their lions.
The director of the site said they had tried to rehome the stallion but hadn't been successful.
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STV News
10 hours ago
- STV News
Denmark zoo asks for unwanted family pets to feed its animals
A zoo in Denmark has come under fire for seeking unwanted family pets to feed its predators. The Aalborg Zoo took to Facebook, asking people to donate animals like chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs in a bid to 'imitate the natural food chain of the animals'. 'That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators,' the post said. On its website, the zoo said the donated animals would be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff before being served up as food. The zoo is home to carnivorous predators, including the Asiatic lion, European lynx and Sumatran tiger. Its public request drew heated debate online, with many against the idea of turning pets into prey, but others praised the zoo's efforts to maintain natural feeding behaviours. The zoo is home to carnivorous predators including the European lynx. / Credit: iStock Deputy director of Aalborg Zoo, Pia Nielsen, said the initiative had been in place for years and was common practice for zoos in Denmark. 'For many years at Aalborg Zoo, we have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock,' she said. 'When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones, 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.' Local Trine Lauridsen said she had donated animals to the zoo in the past, including her horses. 'I think it's a good thing when you say goodbye to your animals, that it serves a good purpose,' she said. 'If they come to a slaughterhouse, where it really smells of death. That is something that few horses like. 'It's nicer to go to a zoo; the animals are calm, maybe they get to grass and get an extra treat and then it's just over.' It is not the first time that a zoo in Denmark has come under scrutiny for the way animals are fed. In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo euthanised a healthy young giraffe named Marius to avoid inbreeding, despite a petition to stop the move. Its carcass was then used for research and to feed carnivores at the same zoo. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
Zoo makes unusual donation request
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has appealed to the public for donations of healthy, live small pets, including chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs. These animals are intended to be used as food for the zoo's predators, such as the Eurasian lynx, to simulate natural feeding chains and promote animal welfare. The zoo has assured donors that all animals will be humanely euthanised by trained staff before being used as fodder, ensuring no waste. The appeal also includes horses, with the zoo offering a potential tax deduction for donors based on the animal's weight and requiring a horse passport. The initiative has received mixed reactions online, with some critics describing it as 'deeply perverse' while others have shared positive experiences of donating animals. Zoo urges people to donate their unwanted pets to feed their predators
ITV News
12 hours ago
- ITV News
Danish zoo asks for unwanted family pets to feed its animals
A Danish zoo has come under fire for seeking unwanted family pets to feed its predators. The Aalborg Zoo took to Facebook, asking people to donate animals like chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs in a bid to 'imitate the natural food chain of the animals'. 'That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators,' the post said. On its website, the zoo said the donated animals would be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff before being served up as food. The zoo is home to carnivorous predators, including the Asiatic lion, European lynx and Sumatran tiger. Its public request drew heated debate online, with many against the idea of turning pets into prey, but others praised the zoo's efforts to maintain natural feeding behaviours. Deputy director of Aalborg Zoo, Pia Nielsen, said the initiative had been in place for years and was common practice for zoos in Denmark. 'For many years at Aalborg Zoo, we have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock," she said. "When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones, 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.' Local Trine Lauridsen said she had donated animals to the zoo in the past, including her horses. 'I think it's a good thing when you say goodbye to your animals, that it serves a good purpose," she said. "If they come to a slaughterhouse, where it really smells of death. That is something that few horses like. "It's nicer to go to a zoo; the animals are calm, maybe they get to grass and get an extra treat and then it's just over." It is not the first time that a zoo in Denmark has come under scrutiny for the way animals are fed. In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo euthanised a healthy young giraffe named Marius to avoid inbreeding, despite a petition to stop the move. Its carcass was then used for research and to feed carnivores at the same zoo.
