Why zoo is asking for people’s pets to feed predators as woman shares why she sent daughter’s horse

Directors of a European zoo have said they would ‘gratefully’ receive small livestock donations, but it's sparked a bit of debate.

Aalborg Zoo is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Denmark, housing more than 1,500 animals belonging to 126 species.

First opened in April 1935, the institution spans 20 acres of land and is reportedly visited by around 375,000 guests every year.

But did you know it houses predators that prey on our furry friends, like our floppy-eared rabbits, cute chickens and hairy guinea pigs?

Earlier this month, the zoological institution posted a reminder that it accepts healthy small pets who can be ‘gently euthanised’ to feed animals, including the European lynx.

“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators,” Aalborg zoo wrote in a social media post.

Would you donate your live horse to the zoo? (Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)

“Especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild.

“If you have a healthy animal that needs to be put down for various reasons, you are welcome to donate it to us.

“The animals are gently euthanised by trained staff and then used as food. That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and wellbeing of our predators.”

Defending the policy, Pia Nielsen, deputy director of Aalborg zoo, told The Guardian that it’s necessary to provide caged carnivores with smaller livestock to ‘give them as natural a diet as possible’.

“Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way,” she explained.

“In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses.”

It’s understood the business has received 137 rabbits, 53 chickens, and 18 guinea pigs from former owners.

The zoo also said that it accepts horses as long as they have a passport. These creatures, like other pets, would be fed to the likes of lions and tigers.

One woman who took Aalborg Zoo up on their offer was Pernille Sohl, a Danish woman whose pony was apparently in ‘excruciating pain’, to the point it needed to be put down.

She told The Sunday Times: “It might sound very dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo.

Aalborg Zoo accepts 'healthy' livestock so it can feed its captive predators (Aalborg Zoo)

“But they are going to be put down anyway, and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators.”

Sohl donated her 22-year-old German riding pony, Chicago 57, back in 2020 after letting her teenage daughter decide its fate.

“She had previously watched one of my horses being taken away by the vet to be euthanised, and it was a bad experience for her," Sohl said of the 13-year-old.

"She said that this time she wanted to follow the food chain. She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals."

Sohl’s experience was apparently so good that she also brought another of her horses, Quantus, to be eaten in 2024.

However, the steed was turned down as he exceeded the maximum height of 147cm to fit in their fridge, so he was turned into dog food instead.