‘Nothing Goes To Waste': Zoo In Denmark Asks For Pet Donations To Feed Predators
A zoo in Denmark has sparked widespread public outrage following a controversial request for pet animals to be donated as food for its carnivorous residents. The Aalborg Zoo, located in northern Denmark, recently shared a Facebook post asking locals not for money or supplies, but for their unwanted pets.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the zoo made the appeal as part of its effort to create a more natural feeding environment for its predators. In the post, the zoo explained that the initiative was aimed at mimicking the natural food chain, describing the move as being 'for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity".
The zoo assured prospective donors that their pets would be 'gently euthanised" by trained staff before being offered as feed. The post stated, 'If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us."
In a translated version of the post, zoo officials clarified that they are particularly seeking chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, animals that, according to the zoo, better contribute to a predator's diet and can be fed whole. 'That way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators," the zoo wrote.
Surprisingly, the zoo is also open to accepting horses as donations. According to information on the zoo's website, horse owners who donate their animals may be eligible for a tax deduction equivalent to the horse's value. However, specific criteria must be met before a horse can be accepted: the animal must be free of illness or treatment for at least a month prior to donation, and it must meet certain size requirements and be transported safely.
The Facebook post was accompanied by an image of a wild cat with its mouth wide open, seemingly yawning. The zoo also included a direct link to its website for further information on the donation process.
In an interview with the BBC, the zoo's deputy director, Pia Nielsen, defended the appeal, stating that the carnivores at Aalborg Zoo had been fed smaller livestock 'for many years." 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."
She further explained that such practices are not unusual in their country. '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.
News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
view comments
Location :
Denmark
First Published:
August 05, 2025, 05:52 IST
News viral 'Nothing Goes To Waste': Zoo In Denmark Asks For Pet Donations To Feed Predators
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Do you have sharp eyes to find the hidden duck and butterfly in this family scene?
Credit: Facebook/@Toll Gavel United Church and Centre Ahhh.. A warm, cheerful scene of a family engaged in a woodworking project. Nostalgic enough, right? There's a man, a woman,one child, and a small dog playfully jumping near the center. Pieces of wood are scattered on the ground, tools are neatly arranged, and there's a cozy garden shed backdrop. But come on, it's a garden. How can there be only one animal? Yes, the number is more. The excited dog is not the only one. Even though the dog is clearly visible, right at the center of the scene. If you move your eyes at every nook and corner of the picture, there are two more animals waiting for your attention . They're skillfully embedded within the illustration itself, waiting to be discovered. Ready for the challenge? While most people spot only the dog, on average, it takes 35-40 seconds to identify the other hidden you can spot all 2 in under 15 seconds? Congratulations—you likely have exceptional attention to detail. Hint? Don't ignore the negative space. Maybe the areas that you are giving the least importance , can be your biggest clue. Time starts..... Let's break it down section by section: The duck That happy dog in the middle has gotten all your attention and that's why you must have missed the space formed between its legs and the hammer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Notice something familiar? Correct, there's a duck shape subtly outlined there. It's a perfect example of negative space trickery, where your brain fills in the blanks. The butterfly Now, let your eyes move to the top-left part of the image, around the large tree and its leaves. Somewhere in the texture and overlap, can you spot the butterfly, now? Its wings are formed by leaves and gaps. It's not brightly colored or obvious, but once you spot the wing symmetry, it becomes impossible to unsee it. Credit: Facebook/@Toll Gavel United Church and Centre How does this optical illusion work? This illusion is created by a cognitive phenomenon known as 'Dual perception' where your brain can interpret the same visual data in more than one way. Initially, our eyes focus on familiar human figures and central subjects, filtering out the rest as background clutter. But once the brain is invited to look beyond the obvious, it starts to connect patterns, shapes, and negative space in new ways. That's when the 'hidden' animals start to pop out. How many animals did you spot before reading the answers? Optical illusion: Find a man's hidden face in 7 seconds
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 80 years after the bombing
Share Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit 80 YEARS AGO The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cleaved history into 'before' and 'after' — for Japan, the U.S., and the entire world. A remembrance of the first, and thankfully last, time humans used atomic weapons in war Video credits: Museum of Modern Art, New York City, New York NEAR-TOTAL RUIN At 8:15 am on August 6, 1945, the U.S. B-29 bomber Enola Gay released 'Little Boy', a uranium-powered atomic bomb, over Hiroshima. The explosion unleashed a firestorm. An estimated 70,000 people were killed instantly, with total deaths by the end of 1945 reaching around 140,000. The majority were civilians, including a significant number of children. Three days later, a plutonium implosion bomb dubbed 'Fat Man' was detonated over Nagasaki, causing approximately 74,000 deaths by year's end. In Hiroshima, about 70% of all buildings were razed or burnt, with damages extending up to 2 km from the bomb's hypocentre. Steel frame buildings suffered severe structural damage up to 1.7 km while multistorey brick buildings were completely demolished as far as 1.3 km. Roof tiles were melted by the flash heat and virtually all wooden or timber-framed buildings within 3 km were either destroyed or heavily damaged. Strong reinforced concrete buildings were blown down 700 m away in Nagasaki. Fires after the blast consumed almost all combustible materials, compounding the destruction by burning wooden structures, tearing away windows and doors, and damaging ceilings and equipment. In Nagasaki, the bomb levelled 6.7 sq. km and destroyed buildings up to 2.5 km away. Some earthquake-resistant structures such as reinforced concrete smoke stacks were overturned within 1.2 km of ground zero. The bombs also flattened nearly all masonry buildings and caused mass structural failures in residential, religious, and industrial buildings. All together, the blast's concussive force, intense heat, and ensuing fires reshaped the urban landscapes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki into scenes of near-total ruin. The survivors, known as hibakusha, endured horrific injuries and long-term health consequences including radiation sickness, increased cancer rates, chronic diseases, and permanent psychological trauma. Nagasaki before Nagasaki after JuxtaposeJS Move the line to see images of Nagasaki before and after IN THE BALANCE The August 30, 1945, telegram from Hiroshima to Tokyo The scale and nature of devastation were unprecedented in human warfare. A Red Cross delegate sent this telegram on August 30, 1945, from Hiroshima to his colleague in Tokyo. The first four lines read: VISITED HIROSHIMA THIRTIETH CONDITIONS APPALLING STOP EIGHT PERCENT ALL HOSPITALS DESTROYED OR SERIOUSLY DAMAGED INSPECTED TWO EMERGENCY HOSPITALS CONDITIONS BEYOND DESCRIPTION FULL STOP EFFECT OF BOMB MYSTERIOUSLY SERIOUS STOP MANY VICTIMS APPARENTLY RECOVERING SUDDENLY SUFFER FATAL RELAPSE DUE TO DECOMPOSITION OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND OTHER INTERNAL INJURIES NOW DYING IN GREAT NUMBERS STOP The U.S. justified the bombings on several grounds. Foremost was Japan's refusal to accept unconditional surrender, as outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. The bombings were also part of a broader geopolitical contest with the Soviet Union. While it was a U.S. ally during World War II, rising tensions and distrust had fuelled a desire in Washington to assert technological and military supremacy before Soviet influence in Asia expanded. NEW WORLD ORDER Leaders of the Allied powers of the Second World War meet at the Potsdam Conference in July 1945 to discuss post-war Europe and the terms for Japan's surrender The atomic bombings marked a profound shift in American foreign policy. The U.S. shaped the postwar order using its nuclear umbrella to guarantee the security of Western European allies and Japan, thus cementing alliances and shaping political economies that aligned with American strategic interests. Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Joseph Stalin in July 1945 The psychological impact of nuclear weapons redefined warfare and diplomacy. Nuclear deterrence became foundational, setting up doctrines like 'mutually assured destruction' that underscored superpower relations for decades. The bombings also marked the beginning of a struggle to balance the strategic benefits of nuclear arms with their horrifying humanitarian consequences. The bombings accelerated the onset of the Cold War. The Soviet Union perceived the atomic strikes as a direct threat and a demonstration of American geopolitical and technological dominance. Anti-nuclear protests intensified in the 1980s In response, the USSR rapidly pursued its own nuclear weapons programme, testing its first atomic bomb in 1949, just four years after Hiroshima. This initiated the nuclear arms race, embedding nuclear weapons at the core of superpower rivalry and global tensions. The Cold War era was defined by periodic crises such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and arms control negotiations, including anti-ballistic-missile treaties and successive arms limitation talks. The baleful legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki also catalysed international attempts to control nuclear weapons and prevent their spread. Early initiatives such as the Baruch Plan (1946) sought to place atomic energy under international control but couldn't succeed. More comprehensive frameworks emerged only decades later. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 became the cornerstone of non-proliferation policy. It established a threefold objective: prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, achieve nuclear disarmament, and foster peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The treaty recognised five nuclear-weapon states (U.S., USSR/Russia, UK, France, China) and barred other signatories from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was tasked with inspection and verification roles to ensure compliance. The IAEA inspection team that on September 1, 2022, began IAEA's first inspection of a nuclear plant in a war zone: the Zaporizhzhia facility in Ukraine. Credits: IAEA Imagebank The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), opened for signature in 1996, represented an effort to ban all nuclear explosions worldwide. Though it has not entered into force due to key states' non-ratification, it embodies near-global consensus on eliminating nuclear testing. These treaties shaped international norms and institutions around non-proliferation. However, implementation remained complex. States like India, Pakistan, and North Korea never joined or withdrew while covert proliferation raised new challenges. Non-proliferation efforts also intersected with regional conflicts, nuclear latency, and the politics of deterrence. This said, by the late 20th century, the anticipated flood of nuclear states hadn't come about, partly due to the NPT and diplomatic pressure. Key success stories include South Africa's voluntary dismantling of its nuclear arsenal and post-Soviet denuclearisation agreements that removed weapons from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Still, the international community wrestled with mistrust, technical verification issues, and geopolitical rivalries that complicated the ultimate goal of complete disarmament. Aerial footage of thermonuclear tests during the Cold War era: Castle Romeo (left) and Castle Bravo, both in 1954. The fallout from Castle Bravo hit the 23-member crew of the Japanese fishing vessel Daigo Fukuryū Maru, drawing international condemnation of atmospheric nuclear testing and later contributing to the genesis of Nihon Hidankyo. Eighty years on, the spectre of nuclear weapons is as real and complex as ever. The Cold War's end did not eliminate nuclear weapons. Instead, it shifted the focus to non-proliferation and disarmament, with treaties like the NPT and CTBT becoming central to global security. However, the post-Cold War era has seen new challenges, including North Korea's nuclear programme, Iran's contested nuclear ambitions, and the erosion of arms control agreements. The 21st century has also witnessed a resurgence of great power competition, with nuclear deterrence remaining a key element in U.S.-China and U.S.-Russia relations. While large-scale use has thankfully been avoided since 1945, the global stockpile is still around 12,000 warheads worldwide. Contemporary conflicts from Ukraine to Korea and tensions around Israel and Iran in West Asia and between India and Pakistan in South Asia continue to bear nuclear overtones. The risks of accidental launch, escalation from conventional conflicts or the introduction of novel technologies like hypersonic delivery systems and cyber warfare are new destabilising factors. Efforts continue through the United Nations, the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and new calls for arms control diplomacy, among others. One particularly bright light is Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation representing the hibakusha that took shape in Japan in 1956. Nihon Hidankyo secretary general Terumi Tanaka speaks to youth about surviving the Nagasaki bombing at a UN event in Vienna in 2007. The organisation was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2024 for its 'its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.'
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- 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.
