A zoo in Denmark requested patrons to donate their pets. Not as points of interest, however for meals

A European zoo stirred up intrigue and controversy after a social media put up asking for surplus pets to be donated to feed captive animals went viral.

In a put up on Fb, the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark requested individuals to donate undesirable pets that might be “gently euthanized” and fed to predators in captivity.

“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,” the zoo wrote.

“In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals – in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” the put up continued. “That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”

The zoo additionally accepts horses as a part of its fodder program.

The Fb put up shortly grew to become a battleground between commenters who had been appalled on the idea of euthanizing wholesome pets for animal feed, and those that applauded the zoo for its technique of sustaining a sensible meals provide for its animals.

A lot of the umbrage directed towards the zoo appeared to stem from the usage of the phrase “pets” to seek advice from the animals, which referred to as to thoughts the picture of well-loved lapdogs being despatched alive right into a literal lions’ den.

“This is a joke right,” one enraged commenter wrote. “No one would bring his healthy pet to a zoo so they can kill it and feed it to their animals.”

“In Denmark, this practice is common”

The Aalborg Zoo says canines and cats are excluded from this system. Donatable animals are restricted to chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses, it says, including that this can be a apply it has maintained with patrons for years.

“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,” zoo Deputy Director Pia Nielsen mentioned in a press release to NPR.

“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,” Nielsen added.

What specialists say

Specialists say that it’s important for captive animals to be fed entire animal elements, together with fur, bones and organs, to keep up the type of consuming habits they’d exhibit within the wild.

Captive carnivores in the US usually have their diets supplemented with commercially out there meat merchandise, like chunk or mincemeat.

“The problem with just feeding lions meat is that the offal (liver, heart, etc.) is much richer in various nutrients than muscle meat – wild lions only start eating the muscle tissue after they’ve finished the offal,” Craig Packer, founder and director of the Lion Heart on the College of Minnesota, advised NPR in an e-mail. “So feeding lions anything besides horse and cow meat would probably be a welcome change.”

The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is an accreditation physique for conservation packages in the US. It mentioned that its member zoos don’t make use of or endorse the solicitation of pets for meals.

However the Dietary Advisory Group to the AZA highlights the significance of predatory animals nonetheless getting access to giant and entire animal stays as a part of a balanced food plan.

“Feeding vertebrate animal carcasses to captive carnivores has been a management tool used by zoos in the United States for many years,” the advisory group mentioned in a press release.

“It encompasses a wide variety of prey types/form of presentation, from whole body to portion controlled, and has the beneficial effects of stimulating activity and improving normal feeding behavior,” it mentioned.

The distinction in American and European zoo practices has been highlighted earlier than, significantly within the case of Denmark.

In 2015, the nation’s Odense Zoo made worldwide headlines for its determination to kill and publicly dissect a 9-month-old feminine lion in entrance of college youngsters, as a method to manage the ability’s lion inhabitants – a apply the zoo had been carrying on for many years.

A 12 months earlier than within the capital metropolis of Copenhagen, animal rights activists had been horrified to be taught {that a} wholesome two-year-old giraffe often known as Marius had been euthanized and his stays fed to the zoo’s lions. The Copenhagen Zoo mentioned placing Marius down had been essential to keep away from inbreeding amongst its giraffe inhabitants.