Denmark zoo seeks unwanted pets to feed its predators

A zoo in northern Denmark is encouraging pet owners to hand over animals they no longer want – not for adoption, but to feed its predators.

In a social media post on July 31, Aalborg Zoo in North Jutland said live rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens can be accepted on weekdays without prior appointment.

The animals will be put down by trained professionals before being used as food for carnivores such as the Eurasian lynx, lions and tigers.

The zoo explained on Instagram that such prey items are crucial for simulating hunting behaviour and maintaining the natural diet of its meat-eating residents.

It added that this method supports both animal welfare and good zoo practice.

The BBC reported on Aug 5 that donations are capped at four small animals at a time.

The zoo may also take in horses under 147cm in height for the same purpose, provided they have the correct paperwork, and have not received medical treatment in the past 30 days. Owners who meet these conditions may be entitled to a tax deduction.

“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,” Aalborg Zoo’s deputy director Pia Nielsen said in a statement.

“It makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way,” the zoo said in a statement cited by Sky News on Aug 4.

This approach, according to the zoo, has been practised for years and is supported by many of its visitors and partners.

Feeding predators with carcasses is not new in Denmark. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo sparked international criticism after putting down a healthy giraffe named Marius and using its body to feed lions.

A similar case occurred in Germany in 2023 when Leipzig Zoo put down a 15-year-old zebra and fed it to big cats after rehoming attempts failed.