DENMARK ZOO ASKS FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS TO DONATE UNWANTED PETS TO FEED PREDATORS

A zoo in Denmark informed the public in a Facebook post that has sparked a lot of strong emotions that it welcomes donations of small pets like guinea pigs, chickens, and rabbits to use as food for its predators. According to the Aalborg Zoo, unwanted animals will be gladly accepted and "gently euthanised by professional workers" before being fed to zoo animals like the European lynx.

The zoo also takes live horses, which it euthanises and kills for the same reason, according to a page on its website. The July 31 Facebook post provoked a contentious discussion between proponents and opponents of the practice. Later, zoo authorities posted an update stating that they had closed the comments section because of "hateful and nasty rhetoric," but they would still be pleased to respond to inquiries by email or private message.

One reader attempted to lighten the tone before the post ended by posing the question, "What if you have gotten bored of some of your children this holiday?"

The zoo cheekily replied, “Here we only accept animals with feathers or fur… fortunately, a couple of hours here always creates happy children (and a good reason for early bedtime).”

This policy, which the zoo claims it implements to replicate the "natural food chain" of its animals, was, however, sharply criticised. A "horrible tendency of apathy to animals in Denmark" was attributed to a "very perverted and disgusting worldview," according to one commenter. "It is much better for an unwanted pet to come to you and be mercifully terminated than for it to be thrown out of a car in a forest," said one supporter of the measures.

In an interview with The New York Times, Sandrine Camus, a spokesman for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, stated that although the majority of zoos purchase their meat from a licensed supplier, there are instances in which roadkill or other meat sources may be utilized, "as long as all welfare and legal requirements are satisfied."

She explained, "Using them for feeding eliminates unnecessary waste and encourages a more naturalistic feeding regime for predators, even though such situations are rare and handled with great care."

Donating animals whose lives are about to end is a frequent practice, despite the fact that some people may find this approach upsetting. "I've been a horse owner for 20 years, and it's usual to send horses to lion and cheetah sanctuaries," explains a Reddit member from South Africa, pointing out that this is also a typical practice in their nation.

Regardless of your stance, it is undeniable that Aalborg Zoo's policies make us think about our obligations as pet owners and the role zoos play in ensuring the welfare of their animals.