Danish zoo asks people to donate pets to feed predators

Zoo Practices & Ethics - A zoo in Denmark requested donations of small animals, including chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and even small horses, to be euthanized and used as food for predators like lions, hyenas, tigers, and lynxes [1][2] - The zoo's goal was to mimic the natural food chain by providing whole prey to its predators [2] - The practice sparked controversy on social media, with some criticizing the idea of feeding domestic animals to captive wild animals [3][4] - The communication director at Zoo Miami noted that such practices are more culturally accepted in Denmark, referencing a past incident where a healthy giraffe was euthanized and fed to lions in public [6][7] - Concerns were raised about the method of euthanasia, specifically whether euthanasia drugs would be used, potentially harming the animals consuming the euthanized prey [8] - The practice was criticized for lacking empathy, especially considering the animals being requested are often considered pets [9] Alternative Approaches & Considerations - Some zoos, including Zoo Miami, occasionally use animals that have died of natural causes (without disease) as food for predators [14] - A Cuban zoo previously had a compensation program where they would compensate owners for horses that were nearing the end of their lives, using the horses as food for zoo animals [13] - Guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, and horses are prey animals (herbivores), making them a more natural food source for carnivores than dogs and cats (which are also carnivores) [12]