Denmark zoo sparks controversy after inviting people to donate pets as predator meals
It’s not every day a zoo asks the public to hand over their unwanted pets…so they can be turned into lunch for lions, lynxes, and other hungry carnivores.
That’s exactly what Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has been doing, though the practice isn’t quite as shocking locally as it sounds to many of us reading from afar.
In a now-viral Facebook post, the zoo invited residents to donate certain animals, including chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even horses, to be “gently euthanized” and fed to the zoo’s predators. Dogs and cats are not part of the program, the zoo emphasized.
“In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals—in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” the zoo wrote. “That way, nothing goes to waste—and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being of our predators.”
According to the zoo, whole prey—fur, bones, and all—is especially important for animals like the European lynx, which would naturally hunt similar creatures in the wild.
Staff say the method is more ethical than importing processed meat products, and that in Denmark, this type of program has been going on for years. Donors can even receive a tax deduction for contributing.
Social media backlash
The post quickly became a battleground in the comments section. The comments on the post have now been turned off due to this.
Some applauded the zoo for finding a sustainable, realistic food source for its carnivores. Others were horrified—especially at the use of the word “pets,” which conjured images of beloved family animals being sent to their doom.
“This is a joke, right? No one would bring his healthy pet to a zoo so they can kill it and feed it to their animals,” one angry commenter wrote.
Zoo Deputy Director Pia Nielsen told NPR that the animals accepted are typically those that need to be euthanized for various reasons and that many guests and local partners appreciate the option to contribute in this way. “When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones, etc., to give them as natural a diet as possible,” she said.
Experts agree that feeding predators whole prey is beneficial for their health and behavior. While many U.S. zoos rely on commercially prepared meat chunks, zoos like Aalborg say providing prey animals intact allows carnivores to engage in natural hunting and feeding habits.
Whether you see it as practical or disturbing, the practice is sparking an international conversation about what it really takes to care for animals at the top of the food chain.
If this unusual zoo story caught your attention, it’s worth noting that beyond the headlines, Denmark has many other wonderful things to do and see. You can start with my guide to cool things to do in Denmark in 2025. And if bizarre animal stories are more your speed, you’ll want to read why the TSA is begging travelers to stop smuggling animals in their underwear at airport security, or this piece on why the U.S. just reissued a travel advisory for one of the most remote places on Earth—but tourists are flocking there anyway.
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