A zoo in Denmark is asking pet owners to donate their animal companions — their guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and even small horses — to feed to its predators.
In a Facebook post last Thursday, the Aalborg Zoo noted that it welcomed animals that, regardless of circumstance, might be nearing the end of their lives. These animals would be “gently euthanized” by trained employees and then used as food for the zoo’s predators, like its European lynx, the zoo notes on its website. Lions and tigers are also part of the zoo’s predator exhibits.
The donations would help the zoo mimic the natural food chain by feeding whole prey to its predators, the post said: “This way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being for our predators.”
The post linked to the zoo’s website, which described the process for donating horses as food. “Our needs vary throughout the year, and there may be a waiting list,” the site explains. For horses, certain conditions must be met, including the horse not having recently been treated for an illness.
“The horse will be delivered alive to Aalborg Zoo, where the horse will be euthanized by a zookeeper and a veterinarian and then slaughtered,” the zoo website says.
The zoo also accepts chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, during weekdays “between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., but no more than four at a time.”
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The post A Zoo in Denmark Wants to Feed Your Pets to Its Predators appeared first on New York Times.
