Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark has made a public appeal to pet owners, asking them to donate unwanted animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, and even small horses, not for exhibition, but as food for their carnivorous residents.
In a post shared on Facebook, the zoo explained its motive, “Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators,” accompanied by an image of a snarling lynx.
The zoo emphasized that this initiative aims to “imitate the natural food chain of the animals.”
“That way, nothing goes to waste and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,” the post added.
According to its official website, the donated animals will be “gently euthanized” by trained professionals before being used as meals for species like the Asiatic lion, European lynx, and Sumatran tiger, all housed at the zoo.
The move has stirred mixed reactions online. While some have condemned the idea of transforming pets into prey, others have lauded the zoo’s attempt to maintain natural feeding practices.
Deputy director of Aalborg Zoo, Pia Nielsen, addressed the controversy in a statement published by The Guardian, noting that this approach is not new.
“For many years at Aalborg Zoo, we have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock. 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,” Nielsen said.
“Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanized 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.”
Danish zoos have faced criticism in the past over similar policies. In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo drew global attention after euthanizing a healthy giraffe named Marius to prevent inbreeding.
The animal’s remains were used both for research and to feed predators such as lions and tigers.
Controversy erupted again weeks later when the same zoo euthanized four lions to make space for a new male lion intended for breeding a new pride.