‘Nothing goes to waste’: Aalborg Zoo in Denmark asks owners to donate pets as food for its predators
A Danish zoo sparked fierce backlash after asking people with pets nearing life’s end to donate the animals as food for its predators.
A Danish zoo has asked people with pets nearing life’s end to donate the animals as food for its predators.
In a Facebook post last Thursday that has since made international headlines, the Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark said that it and other wildlife parks “have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals – in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity”.
“Did you know that you can donate smaller pets to Aalborg Zoo?,” the post read.
“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators – especially in the European locust, which needs whole prey, which is reminiscent of what it would naturally hunt in the wild.
“If you have an animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanised by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”
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The post, which linked to a page on the zoo’s website explaining that it also “gratefully accepts live horses, which we euthanise and slaughter for feed”, drew swift and fierce backlash.
“Feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable,” one Facebook user wrote, while another said it represented “a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark”.
A third person called it a “sick invention”, with someone else writing, “This is a joke right, no one would bring his healthy pet to a zoo so they can kill it and feed it to there (sic) animals.”
Other Facebook users, however, praised the zoo’s initiative and shared their own experiences with it.
“Took a horse to the zoo, a few years ago. It was the quietest and most serene way it went down,” one commented.
“It was the best experience for both horse and I. Sweet staff who took care of it in the finest way, and grateful for the donation. It could definitely be recommended.”
Following “much international interest”, Aalborg Zoo said it had closed comments on its original post.
“We understand that the post awakens feelings and interest, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary – and we urge you to preserve the good tone,” it said.
“We elaborate and are happy to answer questions in the inbox or by email.”
The zoo’s deputy director, Pia Nielsen, told The Guardian that the program had been in place “for many years”.
“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,” Ms Nielsen said.
“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.”
Originally published as ‘Nothing goes to waste’: Aalborg Zoo in Denmark asks owners to donate pets as food for its predators
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