Aalborg Zoo’s Controversial Pet Donation Program Sparks Renewed Debate
Aalborg Zoo’s Controversial Pet Donation Program Sparks Renewed Debate
A zoo in northern Denmark continues its long-standing and controversial practice of soliciting unwanted household pets, including guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, and even small horses, to serve as food for its predatory animals. The Aalborg Zoo, which houses carnivores such as Asiatic lions, European lynx, and Sumatran tigers, states the initiative aims to ‘imitate the natural food chain’ and ensure the well-being and natural behavior of its predators.
The zoo confirms that donated animals are humanely euthanized by trained staff before being fed to the predators. This method, described by Deputy Director Pia Nielsen as common practice in Denmark for many years, helps provide carnivores with a natural diet including fur and bones, reducing waste.
Despite the zoo’s justification, the program consistently triggers lively debate online. While some commend the zoo’s commitment to natural feeding behaviors and sustainability, others strongly object to the idea of turning former pets into prey. This latest round of public scrutiny echoes past controversies surrounding Danish zoos, including the 2014 euthanization of a healthy giraffe named Marius at Copenhagen Zoo, whose carcass was also used to feed carnivores.
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