“In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals – in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” Aalborg Zoo wrote in its Facebook post.
“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators,” the zoo wrote in its post. “That way, nothing goes to waste—and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.” The post included a photo of a lynx baring its teeth.
“The horse will be delivered alive to Aalborg Zoo, where it will be euthanised by a zookeeper and a veterinarian and then slaughtered,” states the website.
Donors can even claim a small tax deduction for the value of the animal, calculated by weight. Smaller animals such as chickens, rabbits, or guinea pigs can be dropped off on weekdays, with larger animal donations requiring an appointment.
The zoo frames the effort as part of its responsibility to mirror natural food chains and encourage predators’ instinctive behaviors. “When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones, etc.,” said deputy director Pia Nielsen in a statement provided to the media, adding that the practice is common in Denmark and has been in place at Aalborg for years.
The zoo’s program has gone viral internationally with its Facebook post, triggering a mix of fascination and outrage. Some commenters praise the approach as humane recycling and an honest depiction of nature. Others are horrified at the thought of family pets ending up as zoo meals. Critics call the plan a cruel way to get rid of rabbits, chickens, and even small horses.
The Facebook post eventually had its comments disabled due to a surge of heated international responses, though the zoo says that it will continue to answer questions privately.
Aalborg Zoo states that the program, emphasizing that chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs are important for the predators’ diet, “especially for the European lynx, which benefits from whole prey similar to what it would hunt in the wild,” according to the zoo.