Danish zoo asks public to donate small pets as predator feed, says it supports animal welfare

A zoo in northern Denmark is appealing to the public for donations of small pets to serve as food for its predators.

In a recent Facebook post, Aalborg Zoo explained that the initiative aims to replicate the natural food chain within its enclosures “for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity.” The zoo assured that any donated animals will be “gently euthanized” by trained professionals.

“If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us,” the zoo wrote.

The zoo specifically mentioned guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens as suitable donations. Once euthanized, the animals will be used as feed for the zoo’s carnivores.

“That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,” the statement added.

The post included a photo of a wildcat with its mouth wide open, alongside a link to the zoo’s website, where it also mentions an interest in receiving horses.

According to the zoo’s website, “The horse will be delivered alive to Aalborg Zoo, where the horse will be euthanized by a zookeeper and a veterinarian and then slaughtered.”

The zoo also accepts chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs on weekdays “between 10 am. and 1 pm., but no more than four at a time.”

The announcement sparked immediate backlash on Facebook. One commenter called it “a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark,” while another insisted that “feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable.”

Aalborg Zoo has not provided a full list of acceptable donation animals and could not immediately be reached for further comment.

(Inputs from AP)