Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has stirred public debate by launching an unusual campaign: asking the public to donate healthy but unwanted pets to be used as food for its carnivorous animals. The zoo is accepting live chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even horses to feed its predators.
Zoo officials assure that all donated animals will be “gently euthanized” by trained personnel before being used to simulate a more natural feeding environment for their animals. They emphasized that this method particularly benefits species like the Eurasian lynx, as it mimics their natural prey and feeding behavior in the wild.
In an Instagram post, the zoo stated that mimicking the food chain is part of their responsibility, and small animals play a crucial role in the diet of large predators. Donations of small pets can be made during weekdays without an appointment, but only in groups of up to four. Donors may also be eligible for tax deductions.
The zoo has outlined specific conditions for horse donations. Horses must have proper identification and must not have received treatment for any illness within the past 30 days. A photo on the zoo's website, showing a tiger eating meat, illustrates the zoo’s philosophy regarding naturalistic feeding practices.
Deputy Director Pia Nielsen explained that the zoo has long been using small animals to feed its carnivores, emphasizing that furred and bony meats are preferable to reflect the animals' natural diets. “Utilizing animals that need to be euthanized anyway makes sense in this context,” she said, adding that this practice is common across Denmark and is generally well-received by the public and zoo partners.