Danish Zoo Continues Practice of Feeding Animals to Carnivores, Sparking Debate
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – The Copenhagen Zoo is defending its long-standing practice of feeding euthanized animals to its carnivorous inhabitants, including lions, tigers, and birds of prey. The zoo confirmed to NPR it accepts animals from private owners – including pets like guinea pigs and horses – as a food source for its carnivores, a policy it says has been in place for years.
The practice, while controversial, stems from a commitment to providing a natural and nutritionally complete diet for the zoo’s predators.According to Deputy director Pia Nielsen, carnivores thrive on a diet that includes meat with fur, bones, and organs, mirroring their feeding habits in the wild. “Thus, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanized for various reasons to be of use in this way,” Nielsen stated. She added that the practice is common in Denmark and appreciated by many guests and partners.
The Importance of Whole Prey in Captive Carnivore Diets
Experts in animal nutrition agree that a whole-prey diet is crucial for the health and well-being of captive carnivores. While many U.S. zoos supplement diets with commercially processed meat, these products frequently enough lack the vital nutrients found in organs and bones.
“The problem with just feeding lions meat is that the offal (liver, heart, etc.) is much richer in various nutrients than muscle meat – wild lions only start eating the muscle tissue after they’ve finished the offal,” explains Craig Packer, founder and director of the Lion Centre at the University of minnesota. “So feeding lions anything besides horse and cow meat would probably be a welcome change.”
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA),the primary accreditation body for U.S.zoos, does not endorse soliciting pets for animal feed. However, the AZA’s Nutritional Advisory Group acknowledges the benefits of providing carnivores with access to whole animal carcasses.In a published statement, the advisory group notes that carcass feeding “has been a management tool used by zoos in the United States for many years,” stimulating activity and promoting natural feeding behaviors. They emphasize the practice encompasses a range of prey types and presentation methods, from whole bodies to portioned remains.
A Divergence in Zoological Philosophy
The difference in approach between American and European zoos, especially in Denmark, has been a recurring point of discussion. The Copenhagen Zoo has previously drawn international scrutiny for similar decisions.
In 2015, the Odense Zoo publicly dissected a young lion in front of schoolchildren as a population control measure, a practice they had maintained for decades. Similarly, in 2014, the Copenhagen zoo euthanized a healthy two-year-old giraffe named Marius to prevent inbreeding, and subsequently fed his remains to the lions, sparking outrage from animal rights activists.
These instances highlight a contrasting philosophical approach to zoo management, where Danish zoos prioritize genetic health and natural behaviors, even if those decisions are emotionally challenging for the public. The Copenhagen Zoo maintains that these practices,while challenging,are essential for responsible animal management and contribute to the overall health and well-being of their animal populations.
