Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark has issued an unusual public request: donate unwanted but healthy small pets or horses to be euthanized and fed to its carnivores. The zoo says the program is meant to replicate the natural food chain and improve animal welfare for predators like lions, tigers, and the Eurasian lynx, which rely on “whole prey” diets similar to what they would hunt in the wild, CBS News reports.

The appeal, posted on the zoo’s social media and website, specifies chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs as primary small-animal donations. Horses are also accepted, provided they meet strict health and size conditions and have not been treated for illness within the previous 30 days, BBC News.

Aalborg Zoo has asked the public to donate healthy small pets for predator food. The program includes chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs as primary donations.

Zoo Says It’s About Welfare and Integrity

The zoo’s deputy director, Pia Nielsen, defended the practice, noting that Aalborg has fed its predators smaller livestock “for many years.” In her view, keeping carnivores requires providing meat with fur, bones, and other natural components to maintain proper nutrition and behavior.

“Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way,” she told Sky News.

The zoo argues that sourcing donated animals prevents waste and supports professional integrity in animal care. It also claims the program is common in Denmark and appreciated by many guests and partners, according to The Guardian.

Zoo officials say the practice replicates the predators’ natural diet.

Public Reaction Is Divided

The appeal has triggered a wide range of responses. Some animal lovers see it as pragmatic, citing peaceful end-of-life options for animals that can no longer be kept. One supporter told The Guardian that donating a horse to the zoo had been “the most peaceful and calm way” the animal’s life could have ended.

Others have reacted with outrage, calling the idea a “sick invention.” Critics see the public solicitation for healthy pets as crossing an ethical line, especially in a climate where animal welfare standards are under intense scrutiny.

Deputy director Pia Nielsen says the practice has been in place for years.

Broader Context and Past Controversies

While Aalborg Zoo’s program is unusual in its openness, it’s not without precedent. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy giraffe named Marius and publicly fed the carcass to lions, citing inbreeding concerns — a move that drew international condemnation. Similar feeding practices have been reported in other European zoos, such as the culling of a zebra in Leipzig in 2023 for predator food.

More recently, a zoo in Nuremberg, Germany, faced protests after reportedly feeding culled baboons to lions in view of visitors, Sky News reports. These incidents highlight the tension between naturalistic feeding practices and public perception of animal cruelty.

The Ongoing Debate

Supporters of Aalborg Zoo’s approach frame it as an honest acknowledgment of predators’ needs. Opponents argue that soliciting healthy animals from the public risks normalizing euthanasia as a convenience rather than a necessity.

As the debate continues, the zoo maintains that its program ensures nothing goes to waste — while public trust hangs in the balance.