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A zoo in Denmark is under fire and getting more than a few raised eyebrows after it publicly asked for donations of small pets to feed its larger animals. Yes, you read that right.
In a Facebook post that sent shockwaves through animal lovers and social media alike, the Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark invited locals to donate chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even small horses to help feed its carnivores, including the European lynx.
“In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the animals' natural food chain, for reasons of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” the zoo wrote in the translated post, casually throwing in that these fluffy companions would be "gently" euthanized by trained staff before being served up as dinner.
Naturally, the internet lost its mind.
While the zoo insists this is all about keeping things “natural” for its predators, critics called the whole thing deeply unsettling. Others, particularly in Denmark, seemed to take it with a grain of salt and a bit of gallows humor.
One Facebook user joked, “Would you take children too if parents get tired of them?” The zoo's surprisingly cheeky response? “Your children are very welcome at the zoo, but not as food.”
While the zoo’s tone veered into PR-by-sarcasm, it doubled down on the message: this isn’t new, just newly public. Aalborg Zoo’s deputy director, Pia Nielsen, said that feeding carnivores with animals that would otherwise be euthanized “gives them as natural a diet as possible.” In fact, the zoo’s website has long had a page dedicated to the donation of horses, complete with specific size requirements (under 147 cm at the withers), paperwork, and even tax deductions.
And if you're thinking of dropping off some guinea pigs before lunch, there are rules for that too. Donations of small animals are accepted only on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and no more than four animals at a time, please.
The zoo insists it’s not being cruel, just honest. Carnivores, they argue, need fur, feathers, and bones to mimic their wild diets and stimulate natural behaviors.
Still, the optics of asking the public to donate family pets (even indirectly) to be killed and fed to big cats is a hard sell for many.
The backlash hasn’t stopped the zoo, though. According to Nielsen, it’s a common practice in Denmark, and “many guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute.”
Whether you see it as pragmatic or PR gone wild, one thing’s for sure: Aalborg Zoo has people talking and possibly hiding their guinea pigs.
Let me know if you'd like a shorter web or social media version too.
Source: People Magazine
