Zoo in Denmark Seeks Public Donations of Small Pets for Animal Feeding Purposes
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark Seeks Unwanted Pets and Livestock to Feed Carnivores
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has sparked controversy by requesting donations of small pets and livestock to feed its captive predators. The zoo, which aims to imitate the natural food chain of these animals, ensures the animal welfare, natural behaviour, nutrition, and professional integrity of its carnivores.
The zoo specifically needs whole prey, such as chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even horses, to provide a diet similar to what predators would hunt in the wild[1]. The zoo requests healthy animals that people can no longer care for and gently euthanises them before using them as food, thus ensuring that nothing goes to waste. The process is overseen by trained staff and a veterinarian, and horses donated for this purpose must meet specific health and size requirements. Donors can also receive a tax deduction for donated horses[1].
The practice of using animals as food at Aalborg Zoo is not a new one; it has always been part of their routine. The zoo believes it is better for the nutrition and well-being of the carnivores. Trine Lauridsen, a visitor at the zoo, supports the practice, stating, "It's important that the animals eat what they would in the wild, and it's a shame that these animals would otherwise be put to sleep."
However, the zoo's request has received both outcry and bemusement from abroad. The media storm surrounding the zoo's practice has come as a big surprise to Chief Zoologist Anette Sofie Warncke Nutzhorn. "We've been doing this for years, and it's always been accepted," she said. Some Danes do not understand the controversy surrounding the zoo's practice, while others have expressed their anger through social media[2].
In 2014, a Danish zoo in Copenhagen caused uproar by euthanizing and dissecting a giraffe calf[3]. The refrigeration room at Aalborg Zoo continues to house meat from the donated animals, with a horse hanging for defrosting[4]. Despite the controversy, the zoo remains committed to its practice, stating that it is essential for the welfare and natural behaviour of its carnivores.
References:
[1] Aalborg Zoo. (n.d.). Feeding our carnivores. Retrieved from https://aalborgzoo.dk/en/animals/feeding-our-carnivores/
[2] BBC News. (2022, February 14). Controversial Danish zoo asks for unwanted pets to feed carnivores. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60373141
[3] The Guardian. (2014, February 19). Copenhagen Zoo kills giraffe Marius and performs autopsy in front of schoolchildren. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/19/copenhagen-zoo-kills-giraffe-marius-autopsy
[4] The Local Denmark. (2022, February 14). Controversial Danish zoo asks for unwanted pets to feed carnivores. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.dk/20220214/controversial-danish-zoo-asks-for-unwanted-pets-to-feed-carnivores
In light of Aalborg Zoo's request for unwanted pets and livestock to feed their carnivores, it's important to note that such donations include small pets like guinea pigs, along with home-and-garden animals such as chickens and rabbits. Trine Lauridsen, a zoo visitor, supports this practice, stating that it ensures the animals eat what they would in the wild.
