Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has launched an unusual campaign, calling on citizens to donate their healthy but unwanted pets, such as chickens, rabbits, pigs and even horses, to feed the predators kept on its premises.
According to the zoo, donor animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and then used as food for predators such as lions, tigers and Eurasian lynxes.
This food, according to institution officials, mimics the natural diet that these animals would have in the wild.
In a statement on social media, the garden emphasizes that it has a responsibility to mimic the natural food chain and that this type of food helps the physical and psychological well-being of predators. Whole shelves of industrial meat do not offer the same benefits.
The zoo's deputy director, Pia Nielsen , said that this practice has been used for years and is common in Denmark.
According to her, carnivorous animals need fresh meat with fur and bones, as part of a natural diet.
Donations are accepted on weekdays and no more than four animals at a time, without prior appointment.
Donated horses must have a passport and not have been treated for disease in the last 30 days. Horse donors may also receive a tax deduction.
The practice has sparked public debate, with some hailing it as an effective and natural way to feed predators, while others see it as a cruel approach to domestic animals.
However, for the zoo, this is an ethical and transparent way to manage resources and treat carnivorous animals in the most natural way possible.
The zoo says that many citizens and partners welcome this opportunity to contribute to animal welfare and avoid the destruction of unwanted animals that would otherwise have been euthanized or abandoned.