A zoo in Denmark requested patrons to donate their pets. Not as sights, however for meals : NPR

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

In a submit on Fb, the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark requested folks to donate undesirable pets that may be “gently euthanized” and fed to predators in captivity.

“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs type an essential a part of the weight-reduction plan of our predators – particularly the European lynx, which wants entire prey that resembles what it will naturally hunt within the wild,” the zoo wrote.

“In zoos we’ve a accountability to mimic the pure meals chain of the animals – when it comes to each animal welfare {and professional} integrity,” the submit continued. “That means, nothing goes to waste – and we guarantee pure conduct, diet and well-being of our predators.”

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

The Fb submit shortly turned 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 confer with the animals, which referred to as to thoughts the picture of well-loved lapdogs being despatched alive right into a literal lions’ den.

“It is a joke proper,” one enraged commenter wrote. “Nobody would carry his wholesome pet to a zoo to allow them to kill it and feed it to their animals.”

“In Denmark, this observe is widespread”

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 observe it has maintained with patrons for years.

“When holding carnivores, it’s obligatory to offer them with meat, ideally with fur, bones, and so on., to offer them as pure a weight-reduction plan as potential,” zoo Deputy Director Pia Nielsen stated in a press release to NPR.

“Subsequently, it is sensible to permit animals that have to be euthanized for numerous causes to be of use on this means. In Denmark, this observe is widespread, and plenty of of our friends and companions respect the chance to contribute,” Nielsen added.

What specialists say

Specialists say that it will be important for captive animals to be fed entire animal components, together with fur, bones and organs, to take care of the type of consuming habits they might exhibit within the wild.

Captive carnivores in america usually have their diets supplemented with commercially accessible meat merchandise, like chunk or mincemeat.

“The issue with simply feeding lions meat is that the offal (liver, coronary heart, and so on.) is way richer in numerous vitamins than muscle meat – wild lions solely begin consuming the muscle tissue after they’ve completed 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 something moreover horse and cow meat would most likely be a welcome change.”

The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is an accreditation physique for conservation packages in america. It stated 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 massive and entire animal stays as a part of a balanced weight-reduction plan.

“Feeding vertebrate animal carcasses to captive carnivores has been a administration software utilized by zoos in america for a few years,” the advisory group stated in a press release.

“It encompasses all kinds of prey varieties/type of presentation, from entire physique to portion managed, and has the helpful results of stimulating exercise and bettering regular feeding conduct,” it stated.

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

In 2015, the nation’s Odense Zoo made worldwide headlines for its resolution to kill and publicly dissect a 9-month-old feminine lion in entrance of faculty kids, as a way to regulate the ability’s lion inhabitants – a observe 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 referred to as Marius had been euthanized and his stays fed to the zoo’s lions. The Copenhagen Zoo stated placing Marius down had been essential to keep away from inbreeding amongst its giraffe inhabitants.