Aalborg, Denmark — Aalborg Zoo has sparked public outrage after urging people to donate their small and healthy pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens, to be euthanized and fed to its carnivorous animals.

In a Facebook post, the zoo asked for “unwanted animals” that could serve as natural prey for species such as the European lynx. The statement explained that providing whole prey is essential for the health and welfare of certain predators, helping replicate their wild diets and natural hunting behaviors.

“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators, especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild,” the zoo wrote. “In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals, in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity. That way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure the natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being of our predators.”

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Public Outcry and a Personal Story

The request ignited a heated debate online, with many criticizing the idea of feeding former pets to zoo animals. In response to the controversy, a 44-year-old Danish woman, Pernille Sohl, revealed that she had once donated her daughter’s 22-year-old German riding pony, named Chicago 57, to Aalborg Zoo, to be fed to the lions.

Sohl, speaking to The Times, said she made the decision in 2020 when the elderly pony had to be put down. While she acknowledged that the choice might seem “very dramatic and bizarre,” she argued that the animals are euthanized humanely before being used as food.

“They are going to be put down anyway, and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators,” she said.

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Zoo’s Justification and Incentives for Donors

Aalborg Zoo has defended its practice, stressing that it is based on animal welfare principles and aims to replicate the natural food chain as closely as possible.

The zoo also offers a small tax deduction to those who donate animals: DKK 100 (£11.60) for smaller animals, and DKK 5 (58p) per kilogram for larger animals, such as horses.

So far in 2025, the zoo reports receiving:

• 137 rabbits
• 22 horses
• 53 chickens
• 18 guinea pigs

While the zoo insists this method prevents waste and benefits the health of its predators, critics say the emotional bond people have with their pets makes the practice deeply unsettling.