A request from azooinDenmarkfordonated animalsto feed to their lions sparked majorbacklashfrom animal rights groups and netizens, calling it disturbing. But for people who've used the service, which zoos have been offering for years, it's the mosthumane, and often the most affordable, way to dispose of large animals. In one case, a 13-year-old girl chose to donate her sick horse to the zoo because she felt it adhered to a "circle of life" philosophy. Image credits:Wikipedia Image credits:aalborgzoo / Instagram Last month, theAalborg Zooin northern Denmark posted to its Facebook account an appeal for animals that could be euthanized to feed to predatory creatures, like lions and tigers. The post read in part: "We gratefully accept animal donations from both private individuals and businesses for euthanisation and slaughter at Aalborg Zoo." Image credits:aalborgzoo.dk The post explained that predators need whole prey, "including fur, bones and organs", because it contributes to the animals' well-being. The ad said that while they do accept guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens, they do not accept cats and dogs. Image credits:Pernille Sohl It didn't take long for the post to ricochet around the internet, garnering comments that ranged from funny to accusatory. Some people jokingly asked if they could donate an annoying family member, while others accused thezooof being callous. Image credits:Pernille Sohl The number of hostile responses on theAalborg Zoo's website from all over the world forced them to close their comments section. But in the days since the initial post and internet backlash, stories have been coming out about people who've proudly used thezoo's service, which it has been offering for years. Image credits:Pernille Sohl According to astoryinThe Times,a woman named Pernille Sohl decided to use the service a few years ago to put down a 22-year-old German riding pony with painful eczema and open wounds. The article says Sohl, who runs a farm where children with mental health issues can interact with horses, chose the zoo instead of a vet mainly because her 13-year-old daughter Angelina preferred it. Image credits:Pernille Sohl "I gave Angelina the various options and she chose the one with the zoo, because it made the most sense," Sohl toldThe Times. "She had previously watched one of my horses being taken away by the vet to be euthanised, and it was a bad experience for her. She said that this time she wanted to follow the food chain," Sohl said in the article, continuing that her daughter wanted the horse "to benefit other animals." Image credits:Pernille Sohl The act of feeding whole animals to predators is actually something that benefits their health, members of thezoosaid in a statement on their website. "Predators need whole prey — including fur, bones and organs — as it contributes to both enrichment, nutrition and wellbeing," the message said. Image credits:Aalborg Zoo / Facebook "By allowing necessary k*lls to become part of the food chain, we avoid waste and instead create a meaningful farewell where the animal can benefit both the predators in the garden and nature." According to the article, the "AalborgZoo, which attracts almost half a million people a year, has been receiving such donations since it was founded in 1935." Image credits:Aalborg Zoo / Facebook It's not the only zoo to face a backlash for feeding some of its animals to other animals in its care. The Nuremberg Zoo in Germany received pushback after announcing it had culled 12 Guinea baboons due to overcrowding in their enclosure. Image credits:Bonnie Kittle / Unsplash According to an article fromDeutsche Welle, "Half were then fed to lions, tigers, maned wolves and marbled polecats, and the skeletons of others will be put on display in a museum." The article said the animals' heads, feet, and hands were removed "out of respect for visitors" who would see the carnivores feeding, quoting Jörg Beckmann, the zoo's deputy director. Image credits:Zachariah Smith / Unsplash After getting pushback from animal rights groups, thezooacknowledged that people might be "confused, affected, or angry" about the cull, but explained that "whole-animal feeding provides crucial dental health benefits for carnivores." Thezooadded that, unlike many house pets, which get surgery to remove the plaque buildup from their teeth because of processed food: "Unlike many pets, our animals don't need tartar removal under general anesthesia." Image credits:Google Maps
