Denmark Zoo Wants to Feed Horses and Family Pets to its Zoo Animals

Last month, Aalborg Zoo announced an initiative seeking donations of unwanted pets to be used as food for its animal residents, a move that has ignited a strong public reaction and widespread criticism on social media. The Danish zoo, in a publicly released statement, outlined its need for whole prey, including fur, bones, and organs, to ensure a healthy and natural diet for its predators. This practice, the zoo states, contributes to the animals’ enrichment, nutrition, and overall well-being while also reducing waste by incorporating necessary culling into a natural food chain.

The zoo is accepting donations of specific types of animals, including horses and smaller prey animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens. Owners who wish to donate a horse can arrange for its euthanasia and slaughter at the zoo by trained staff. Donors are informed that there may be a waiting list for horse donations, depending on the zoo’s needs throughout the year.

In terms of financial incentives, owners who provide their CPR or CVR number when handing over a horse can obtain a tax deduction for the horse’s value. The zoo also welcomes donations of smaller pets like chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, which can be dropped off on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. without an appointment, with a limit of four individuals per drop-off. For larger quantities of small animals, an appointment is necessary. Owners of these smaller animals can receive a tax deduction of DKK 100 per animal donated by providing their social security number. The zoo explicitly states that it does not accept other predators, such as dogs and cats, as donations.

The zoo’s announcement, intended to secure a consistent and species-appropriate food source for its animals, has been met with significant public backlash, particularly on social media platforms. The strong negative response has led the zoo to disable comments on its Facebook post regarding the initiative.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Aalborg Zoo.

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