Fur real? Denmark zoo asks pet owners to donate healthy animals to feed its predators
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has sparked fierce debate after publicly encouraging the donation of pet animals, such as chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, to be killed and used as food for its predators, including the European lynx.
“If you have an animal that, for various reasons, needs to be rehomed, you are welcome to donate it to us. The animals are euthanised humanely by trained personnel and then used as feed. In this way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition, and well-being for our predators,” the zoo said on social media.
Its officials argued that imitating the natural food chain is part of their ethical responsibility. “In zoos, we have a responsibility to mimic the animals’ natural food chain, for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity.”
The zoo defended the practice as essential for animal welfare and scientific integrity within the confines of captivity.
“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet for our predators, especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild,” the facility said.
The zoo has continued to openly invited members of the public to donate animals they can no longer care for, including horses.
“The horse will be delivered alive to Aalborg Zoo, where the horse will be killed by a zookeeper and a veterinarian and then slaughtered,” the zoo said on its website,
IOL News