Zoo defends controversial killing of healthy giraffe fed to lions

Keepers at a Danish zoo argued that their decision to put down a ‘surplus’ giraffe is based on the zoo’s strict anti-breeding rules.

12:57 10 February 2014

The killing of eighteen-month-old giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo did not sit well with animal right activists and has sparked an online petition with 25,000 signatures. 

 

The healthy giraffe called Marius was coaxed into a yard of the zoo and was given his favourite food of rye bread as his last supper. He was then shot in the head from behind and cut apart for an autopsy in front of a crowd of people which included children. He was then fed to the lions. 

 

The zoo’s scientific director Bengs Holst has defended the decision amidst outrage from activists. In a statement, he said: "As this giraffe's genes are well represented in the breeding program and as there is no place for the giraffe in the zoo's giraffe herd, the European Breeding Program for Giraffes has agreed that Copenhagen Zoo euthanise the giraffe.” 

 

"When breeding success increases, it is sometimes necessary to euthanise.”

 

This process is done every year to avoid in-breeding but Copenhagen Zoo said it has never put down a giraffe before.