In the animal kingdom, dinner is served only after you catch it. The lower you are on the food chain, the more likely you are to become a bigger animal’s next meal. But when you live in a zoo, things are different. Wild animals, which were born to be vicious predators, now depend on zookeepers to serve them meals, which are often not as satisfying as what they could have gotten in their natural habitats. One zoo in Denmark is trying to change that. They are requesting donations of small pets to serve as food for their predators.
Aalborg Zoo’s Unusual Donation Request
This Danish zoo is requesting chickens and other animals to feed to its exotic animals.
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The Aalborg Zoo wants to mimic the natural food chain for the animals that live there by giving their predators small, donated animals to eat.
“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators — especially for [carnivorous mammals and birds of prey], which need whole prey…reminiscent of what [they] would naturally hunt in the wild,” the zoo stated on their Facebook page.
They cite animal welfare and professional integrity as the reasons for requesting these donations. “If you have an animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us,” the zoo continued. “The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and [then] used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure [the] natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”
How Euthanasia is Administered
Rabbits and other animals are rendered unconscious and killed as quickly as possible by trained zoo staff.
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The social media managers at Aalborg Zoo answered some questions from people about this unusual program. One person asked what they meant by gentle euthanasia, and the zoo clarified. “We do not spray the animals, as this liquid can accumulate in the body (and it should obviously not be given to the animals).”
“Trained staff ensure that the animals are killed as quickly as possible — immediately and without pain,” the zoo added.
In another comment, the zoo shared that staff will typically use a bolt gun on larger animals. “[This] ensures immediate unconsciousness and then euthanasia [through] bleeding out or neck pulling,” the zoo wrote in a comment.
They added, “We always follow the recommended methods and guidelines from the authorities to ensure that it is done with respect for the animal and with a focus on animal welfare, hygiene, and food safety.”
For smaller animals like rabbits, zoo staff may administer a blow to the skull to render the animal unconscious. “Although an animal may move after a blow or killing, this is due to nerve impulses and not because the animal is conscious – it may seem violent, but [it] is physiologically natural,” they wrote in a comment.
“Our goal is always to ensure that the euthanasia is done as gently and quickly as possible – both for the sake of the animal and for those who work with it. We always follow the recommended methods,” the zoo added.
Importance of Animal Carcasses as Food
Wild animals need animal carcasses to improve feeding behavior.
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The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a United States accreditation body for conservation programs, does not employ or endorse the solicitation of pets for food, per NPR. (Keep in mind, the zoo in Denmark would not follow these guidelines.)
The AZA’s Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG), however, does state the importance of exotic carnivores being fed animal carcasses.
“Feeding vertebrate animal carcasses to captive carnivores has been a management tool used by zoos in the United States for many years,” they stated on their website. “It encompasses a wide variety of prey types [and] forms of presentation, from whole body to portion-controlled, and has the beneficial effects of stimulating activity and improving normal feeding behavior.”
More About Animal Donations
Feeding wild animals with carcasses is a common practice in Denmark.
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On their website, Aalborg Zoo shared more details about their request for pet donations. They stated that they accept live horses, chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, which they euthanize and slaughter for feed.
In an interview with NPR, Aalborg Zoo Deputy Director Pia Nielsen said, “When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones, etc., to give them as natural a diet as possible. Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanized for various reasons to be of use in this way.”
“In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute,” Nielsen added, clarifying that they do not accept cats or dogs for this.
The Aalborg Zoo opened in 1935 and is one of the most distinctive zoological gardens in Denmark. This year, they renovated new red panda, red deer, and Japanese crane facilities as part of the continued growth of the zoo. Over 500,000 guests visit the Aalborg Zoo annually.
