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A Danish zoo is asking people to donate unwanted small pets to be euthanised and fed to predators, sparking debate over ethics and animal welfare.
Lion (Representative Image)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 5, 2025 05:47 IST
In a move that's raising both eyebrows and debate, a zoo in Denmark is asking the public to consider donating their small pets not for adoption, but for animal feed.
Aalborg Zoo, located in northern Denmark, says it’s trying to recreate the natural food chain for its carnivores and is encouraging people to hand over animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens — even horses — to be euthanized and fed to predators inside the facility.
“For the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” the zoo wrote in a Facebook post, “we try to mimic nature as closely as possible when it comes to feeding our predators.”
The zoo insists all animals will be “gently euthanized” by trained staff and used in a way that promotes the “natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”
“That way, nothing goes to waste,” the zoo added.
The post includes a photo of a wildcat with its jaws open and a link to the zoo's website, where it also notes interest in receiving larger animals, including horses.
“If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us,” the zoo said, though it did not clarify whether other common pets like cats or dogs would be accepted. The zoo has not provided further details.
The request has sparked a mix of reactions online — with some applauding the transparency and practicality of the idea, and others disturbed by the concept of pets becoming prey.
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Published By:
Rivanshi Rakhrai
Published On:
Aug 5, 2025
