Rabat- The Aalborg Zoo in Denmark posted on Facebook asking for surplus pets to be donated to feed their captivated predators, stating, “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 assured that the pets would be “gently euthanized” and that they “have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals.” These carnivorous predators include the Asiatic lion and the Sumatran tiger.
The public was split, though many European voices supported the naturality of the supply, numerous international voices chimed in commenting on the lack of sympathy, most likely caused by the use of the “pets” to describe the feed. The connotation of the word depicts an image of a loving household cat or puppy being mauled on, however these animals are not accepted.
However, in Denmark, this is not an unusual ask and has actually been going on for years. Deputy Director of the Aalbord Zoo, Pia Nielsen, wrote in a statement that they have been feeding smaller livestock to their predators for a long time because it is the most natural diet for the animals and for the ecosystem.
“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,” explained Nielsen.
Experts around the world agree that feeding these whole animals to the captivated predators reinforces essential wild eating habits.
The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) does not endorse serving pets as food, but acknowledges the significance of these large zoo animals to have access to other large animals to maintain a balanced diet.
The viral post was updated “Due to much international interest, we have chosen to close the comments section on this post. We understand that the post awakens feelings and interest, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary,” wrote the zoo. Though they have been experiencing polarizing attention, the zoo sticks with its decision and method.
