A Zoo in Denmark Is Asking People to Donate Their Pets to Be Fed to Lions
Up in northern Denmark, Aalborg Zoo has stirred up a storm by asking locals to donate their unwanted pets to feed the lions, tigers, and lynxes. This isn’t a joke or a publicity stunt. The zoo has been doing this for years, but a recent social media post reignited the debate.
Aalborg Zoo’s Call for Pet Donations
Image via Pixabay/Chiem Seherin
The Danish facility is calling for chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even small horses, all of which would be “gently euthanized” by trained staff before becoming dinner for the predators. The zoo says the goal is to mimic what these animals would hunt in the wild, and to keep their diets as natural as possible with meat, fur, bones, and all.
This isn’t just a random free-for-all. If you’re planning on bringing in small animals, the zoo only accepts up to four at a time without an appointment. Horse donations have stricter rules: they must have a valid horse passport and can’t have been treated for illness in the last 30 days. In return, horse owners may qualify for a tax deduction. The zoo insists that this is common practice in Denmark, where many guests and partners have supported the idea.
Feeding the Food Chain
Pia Nielsen, the deputy director, explains that carnivores benefit from eating whole prey, which helps maintain their natural behavior and overall well-being. From their perspective, it’s better for an animal that needs to be euthanized to serve a purpose rather than be wasted.
The Eurasian lynx is often used as an example of why this approach makes sense, since rabbits and small mammals make up much of its natural diet. To the zoo, it’s a simple equation: predators need meat, smaller animals sometimes need to be put down, and combining the two avoids waste.
Ensuing Public Outrage
Image via iStockphoto/Jacob Lund
Of course, this reasoning hasn’t won over everyone. Many people were outraged by the thought of donating pets to be killed and fed to zoo animals. The word “pet” struck a nerve for critics, who see pets as companions meant to be cared for, not prepared for a lion’s lunch. Dan Ashe from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums told The Guardian that the term itself makes the announcement sound harsher than it might otherwise.
Animal rights voices have been even stronger. Clifford Warwick, a UK-based biologist, called the practice “bizarre and wrong” and said it devalues the lives of pets. Online criticism has been blunt, with social media users calling it “pathetic” and “a disgrace”. One even sarcastically asked if human family members were next on the menu.
Not Denmark’s First Controversy
This isn’t the first time Danish zoos have made headlines for their approach to animal care and feeding. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a healthy giraffe named Marius to prevent inbreeding. His carcass was partially used for research and partially fed to lions and tigers. Just weeks later, the same zoo put down four lions to make way for a new breeding male, which sparked another round of outrage.
These incidents, combined with Aalborg Zoo’s latest request, have cemented Denmark’s reputation for blunt, nature-focused zoo management that isn’t afraid of public backlash. The question is whether the broader public will accept that these practices are, in the zoo’s eyes, a more natural way to care for their predators.
The Debate Continues
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Supporters argue that this feeding method is closer to what predators would get in the wild and that it’s a practical use for animals that can no longer be kept as pets. Opponents see it as crossing a moral line, especially when the animals involved were once cared for and loved. The clash between those two perspectives shows no sign of ending soon.
For now, Aalborg Zoo stands by its project, saying it ensures the natural diet, behavior, and health of its carnivores. But with criticism pouring in from pet owners and animal lovers alike, the controversy around feeding pets to lions will likely roar on for a while.