The directors of a zoo in Denmark have asked the public for small livestock donations, which has sparked some debate. One woman gave away her daughter’s horse, and has since explained why.
Aalborg Zoo is housing predators
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country, put out a statement saying they would be ‘grateful’ to accept livestock donations to feed the predator animals they house.
The zoo holds more than 1,500 animals from 126 species.
The predators feed on a lot of animals considered pets
The zoo, which reportedly gets around 375,000 guests a year, houses predators that feed on a lot of animals which many of us keep as pets such as rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs.
They put out a reminder earlier this month that they accept healthy small pets that would be ‘gently euthanized’ to feed their animals.
The zoo announced it in a social media post
In a post online, the zoological institution posted, “Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators.”
“Especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild. If you have a healthy animal that needs to be put down for various reasons, you are welcome to donate it to us.”
They explained the animals would be euthanized
“The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and then used as food. That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and wellbeing of our predators,” Aalborg zoo added.
Deputy director of the zoo, Pia Nielsen, told The Guardian that it’s necessary to give caged carnivores smaller livestock.
It duplicates a natural diet for them
Nielsen said giving the predators smaller livestock is to ‘give them as natural a diet as possible’.
“Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanized for various reasons to be of use in this way,” she said.
It’s common practice for the country
“In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute,” Nielsen said.
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“The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses,” she added.
One woman gave away her daughter’s horse
The zoo has reportedly received 137 rabbits, 53 chickens, and 18 guinea pigs from former owners. They also said they’d accept horses as long as they have a passport.
One mother, Pernille Sohl, gave away her daughter’s pony who was apparently in ‘excruciating pain’ to the point where it needed to be put down.
She explained the decision to the press
Speaking to The Sunday Times, the Danish woman said, “It might sound very dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo.”
“But they are going to be put down anyway, and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators.”
Her daughter explained she was okay with it
“She had previously watched one of my horses being taken away by the vet to be euthanised, and it was a bad experience for her,” Sohl explained of her 13-year-old daughter.
The girl had seen another one of her mother’s horses be put down before, and decided that this time ‘she wanted to follow the food chain.’
