Danish Zoo Launches Unique Pet Donation Initiative to Nourish Predators

Aalborg Zoo in Denmark is appealing for donations of pets such as chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, which will be used to feed predators. The initiative aims to reflect natural dietary habits and offers benefits to horse donors, including tax deductions.

Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has initiated an innovative program encouraging pet owners to donate healthy animals they can no longer care for, to support the dietary needs of its predators. The zoo is particularly seeking live chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even horses, which are euthanized humanely by trained professionals. On social media, Aalborg Zoo emphasized its commitment to replicate the natural food chain for its animals, with smaller livestock being a critical component of the predators' diets, notably for the Eurasian lynx.

In addition to lions and tigers, the zoo’s carnivorous inhabitants depend on a naturalistic diet that mirrors their wild counterparts. Donations of small animals can be made on weekdays, limited to four at a time unless an appointment is arranged. For horses, submission requirements include possession of a horse passport and a recent health check, allowing donors to potentially receive a tax deduction.

Pia Nielsen, the zoo's deputy director, articulated the benefits of this practice, stating that it has provided animals suitable for consumption for many years. “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 noted. The initiative has been positively received by many patrons and underscores a prevalent practice in Denmark that allows donations from compassionate pet owners looking to help sustain the zoo's carnivorous residents.