Zoo defends asking visitors to donate unwanted pets to feed tigers
A zoo visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year has had to shut down comments on its social media forums after asking members of the public to donate their unwanted pets to be fed to predators.
Aalborg Zoo in North Jutland, Denmark, caused outrage following the bizarre request for live rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and even horses under 147cm tall, to be donated, which its trained staff would 'gently euthanise'.
But it has defended its actions saying the animals housed in the zoo need 'fur and bones'.
A statement said: 'In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the animals' natural food chain - for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity.
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'Nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators.'
And Pia Nielsen, the zoo's deputy director, told The Mirror: 'At Aalborg Zoo, we have always had various carnivores. Carnivores represent an important and diverse group of animals in nature. They fill a central niche in ecosystems and play a crucial role in the balance of nature. At the same time, predators evoke both fascination and curiosity – and help communicate important messages about the connections in nature and biodiversity.
'We have both large and small carnivores in Aalborg. We place great emphasis on the animals' health. We monitor them daily, have daily veterinary checks, and assess their welfare based on these daily observations.
'For many years 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 euthanized 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.'
One woman who donated her rabbit commented on social media: 'This is such a fine arrangement. I have delivered a rabbit to you, and it was a super nice and professional experience.'
But other comments from people around the world expressed outrage, resulting in comments being restricted.
Dr Mark Jones of Born Free, an international wildlife charity dedicated to rescuing and safeguarding animals from exploitation, has slammed the zoo's appeal.
He said: 'Companion animals have a particular place in human-animal relationships. The very idea of a zoo offering to take unwanted pets in order to kill them and feed them to their predators will horrify most right-minded people.
'Moreover, Born Free has always maintained that big cats and other predators don't belong in zoos and should be phased out. Zoos cannot provide for the complex needs of these animals, and the idea that feeding them former pet animals will somehow compensate for the poor welfare they experience is preposterous.
'This announcement by the zoo undermines any claim that animal welfare is their top priority. Anyone who cannot keep a healthy pet animal should secure its future through established rescue and rehoming organisations, rather than giving it to a zoo to be killed and used as 'fodder' in order to perpetuate the keeping of wild animals in captivity for our entertainment.'
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