The zoo in the Danish city of Aalborg is appealing for donations of small pets to feed its caged predators, the Associated Press reports.
The zoo said it was trying to mimic the natural food chain of the animals there “in the name of animal welfare and professional integrity,” and assured that the pets would be “carefully euthanized” by trained staff.
The appeal is on Facebook, and states that “if you have a healthy animal that needs to be remembered for various reasons, do not hesitate to donate it to us.” Guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens are preferred, as well as donations of food for the zoo’s predatory inhabitants.
“This way, nothing is wasted and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,” the zoo said.
The online appeal for pet donations is accompanied by a photo of a wild cat baring its teeth with its mouth wide open, and a link to the zoo’s website, which notes that the facility is also interested in adopting horses.
The zoo, which could not immediately be reached for comment, did not list other pets or animals as possible donations, the AP notes.
A decade ago, the Copenhagen Zoo sparked outrage among animal lovers when a 18-month-old giraffe was killed and dismembered in front of visitors because it had no space for the small animal.
Illustrative Photo by Helena Lopes: https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photo-of-three-brindle-puppies-inside-brown-woven-basket-1938123/
