Woman had 'super nice experience' donating rabbit to be eaten by predators at zoo

A woman who gave up her pet rabbit to a zoo after it asked for 'donations' to be used as food for predators has claimed it was a 'super nice experience'.

Last week, Aalborg Zoo in Denmark shocked the world after it requested people to donate their unwanted animals to be fed to some of the predatory species on show there.

Writing on Facebook, the zoo said: "Did you know that you can donate smaller pets to Aalborg Zoo? Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators - especially in the European lynx, which needs whole prey, which is reminiscent of what it would naturally hunt in the wild.

"In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals - in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity. If you have an animal that has to leave for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us.

"The animals are gently euthanised by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators."

Aalborg Zoo accepts 'healthy' livestock so it can feed its captive predators, such as tigers (Aalborg Zoo)

Considering most people love their pets more than their own family members, it's hard to believe anyone would have signed up, but now a woman who gave up her rabbit has opened up about her controversial choice.

Kristina Meincke surrendered her rabbit, which was put down humanely before being fed to the predators at the zoo, and she commended the conservation for the experience.

She wrote on social media, as per The Mirror: "This is such a fine arrangement. I have delivered a rabbit to you, and it was a super nice and professional experience."

To be clear, the zoo isn't asking for perfectly healthy puppies that have been a little naughty. But their wording certainly saw them face a lot of backlash, with many already taking issue with the concept of a zoo in the first place, and the idea of an animal that 'has to leave' is certainly open to each owner's interpretation.

Dr Mark Jones of Born Free, an international wildlife charity, slammed the zoo's post in an interview with The Mirror.

A woman donated a rabbit to the zoo and said it was a 'super nice' experience (Getty Stock Image)

He said: "Companion animals have a particular place in human-animal relationships. The very idea of a zoo offering to take unwanted pets in order to kill them and feed them to their predators will horrify most right-minded people.

"Moreover, Born Free has always maintained that big cats and other predators don't belong in zoos and should be phased out. Zoos cannot provide for the complex needs of these animals, and the idea that feeding them former pet animals will somehow compensate for the poor welfare they experience is preposterous.

"This announcement by the zoo undermines any claim that animal welfare is their top priority. Anyone who cannot keep a healthy pet animal should secure its future through established rescue and rehoming organisations, rather than giving it to a zoo to be killed and used as 'fodder' in order to perpetuate the keeping of wild animals in captivity for our entertainment."

Kristina isn't the only pet owner to take the zoo up on their offer, however, as one woman took her daughter's pony to be eaten by lions.