Nuremberg Zoo Culls Baboons Amid Overcrowding; Protests Erupt
Activists Arrested as Healthy Primates Euthanized and Fed to Predators
A controversial decision by Nuremberg Zoo to cull twelve healthy Guinea baboons due to overcrowding has sparked outrage and led to the arrest of animal rights activists. The zoo cited increasing conflicts within the enclosure and a lack of viable alternatives for rehoming the animals.
Zoo Cites Overcrowding and Failed Contraception
The German zoo stated that the population of Guinea baboons had grown beyond its enclosure’s capacity, exceeding 40 individuals when its designed limit is 25. Efforts to control the population through contraception reportedly failed to curb growth. Zoos in other countries, where some baboons were previously transferred, had also reached their own capacity limits.
Dag Encke, the zoo’s director, defended the action as a “legitimate last resort to preserve the population” after years of deliberation, asserting it aligns with European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) guidelines.
Protests and Legal Challenges Mount
Seven activists were arrested on Tuesday after breaching the zoo’s perimeter in protest. One demonstrator reportedly glued herself to the ground near the entrance. The zoo had announced its intention to cull some baboons last year. Following the confirmation of the killings, animal rights organizations have filed a criminal complaint, deeming the act “avoidable and illegal.”
“Healthy animals had to be killed because the zoo maintained irresponsible and unsustainable breeding policies for decades.”
—Spokesperson, Pro Wildlife
Christoph Maisack of the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law questioned the justification, stating that “letting the animals breed too freely cannot constitute such a reason” for their culling.
Historical Precedent of Zoo Culls
This incident echoes past controversies surrounding animal culling in European zoos. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo faced widespread criticism for euthanizing Marius, a giraffe whose genes were deemed too similar to other giraffes in their breeding program. The giraffe’s post-mortem dissection was broadcast live, a practice that also drew significant public backlash.
The Nuremberg zoo confirmed that none of the culled baboons were pregnant or part of research studies. Their bodies were reportedly used for scientific sampling before being fed to the zoo’s predator animals.
Animal welfare organizations continue to advocate for more ethical and sustainable population management strategies in zoos. According to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), responsible population management is crucial for the long-term health and welfare of animals in zoological collections, but it does not typically involve the culling of healthy animals unless all other options are exhausted (WAZA).
