What do we think of the Copenhagen Zoo's Decision?

[dorothyinAus]

WARNING:  EXTREMELY DISTURBING STORY

Copenhagen Zoo Kills Giraffe

Condensed version:  The Copenhagen Zoo made the decision to euthanize a healthy male giraffe deemed "surplus" to avoid inbreeding.  The necropsy was done in public, with families and children watching, and the remains were fed to other zoo animals.

[oneslybookworm]

Omg, how horrific! I can't believe they wouldn't let another zoo take him, that is absolutely atrocious. And to do it in front of children...JC, I hate people sometimes.

[CakeLover]

Yikes, zoos disturb me anyways but this is a whole new level. The zoo was responsible and warned parents of what was going to happen so they had a choice instead of it just happening. But I want to know why the zoo did not accept the offers of the two wildlife parks. Assholes! Poor little Marius.

[oneslybookworm]

Feb 9, 2014 20:44:42 GMT -5 CakeLover said:

Yikes, zoos disturb me anyways but this is a whole new level. The zoo was responsible and warned parents of what was going to happen so they had a choice instead of it just happening. But I want to know why the zoo did not accept the offers of the two wildlife parks. Assholes! Poor little Marius.

I get that they told people ahead of time, but I still feel like they turned it into a spectacle. Science my ass. I can't believe how fired up I am about this, but it literally makes me sick.

I'm in no way saying what you said was wrong, CakeLover, I'm just pissed that it was ever considered a decision to euthanize a healthy animal.

[dorothyinAus]

I read that currently available birth control methods are dangerous to giraffes, so it's fair enough they decided not to castrate him. But why could they not have separate areas for males & females, and for breeding pairs? Even if they just fenced off areas of the enclosure. Surely there were other options that could have been considered before taking this irreversible action.

That's what gets me. It seems they skipped right over valid options and took the easy way out.

[CakeLover]

I know, I don't think the zoo was right at all. The only thing I'm happy about is they warned about it instead of some child being scarred because they were not aware of what was going to happen. And I agree it was a total spectacle. Looking at the pictures I think the children that were there were very young. Probably scarred for life, poor little ones.

[americaninoz]

I think it's disgusting what they did, especially considering 2 other zoos offered to take him - why kill a healthy animal - sick

[Deleted]

It bothers me that any zoo would euthanize a healthy animal. In my opinion, when they acquire animals, they agree to the responsibility of making sure that animal is cared for for its entire life, whether that means providing health care, adequate pens and food, or rehoming if necessary. You don't just euthanize a healthy animal.

[GilliC]

I can't get too upset by it. If they let all the animals loose, it's a good chance that one of the giraffes would end up being eaten by a lion anyway. I'm glad they advised the parents about what would be happening, but I'm not terribly outraged.

I do wonder why they didn't want to give him to another zoo, but I don't think they made the decision lightly, so I suspect there were factors to consider. I've seen some absolutely terrible zoos in my day, and if it was a choice of giving the African predators a healthy and authentic meal versus subjecting the giraffe to living in terrible conditions in a steel-and-concrete box zoo, I can understand the decision.

[Wanderista]

A British animal refuge offered to take him in and to pay for the relocation costs but the zoo refused. It said that he is surplus and not good genetic breeding material. It said that it didn't want to rehome him because he would be taking up the space of other genetically fit giraffes. I understand the argument in theory but in practice it is very, very cold. I think they were not open to consider any other options. It's not like the British animal refuge was looking for a breeding quality animal, it just wanted to give him a home. He was only 2 yrs old.

I think the people who sent death threats to the zoo management are totally out-of-line, but I don't agree with the zoo's policy in this case at all. They should have given him to the refuge. It's a very unfortunate incident but if it raises public concern about the treatment of animals in zoos then perhaps it wasn't a death in vain.

It's one thing to want to run an effective breeding program, it's another to basically practice eugenics. It's kind of like a breeder killing the puppies who don't sell ... awful IMO.

[potatopie]

wow. besides the zoo's decision, I question the parents who brought their children to see this. I can understand wanting your child to understand the circle of life and all, but I think it's a gross and potentially very traumatic spectacle.

[allibally]

Feb 11, 2014 2:55:19 GMT -5 potatopie said:

wow. besides the zoo's decision, I question the parents who brought their children to see this. I can understand wanting your child to understand the circle of life and all, but I think it's a gross and potentially very traumatic spectacle.

Yeah. It's one thing just to watch the Lions eat it. But watching it be dissected ect. There were some really small children watching that I think. Saw one little boy in a photo. To be honest I didn't look at anymore than that one.

[potatopie]

Feb 11, 2014 3:37:44 GMT -5 allibally said:

Feb 11, 2014 2:55:19 GMT -5 potatopie said:

wow. besides the zoo's decision, I question the parents who brought their children to see this. I can understand wanting your child to understand the circle of life and all, but I think it's a gross and potentially very traumatic spectacle.

Yeah. It's one thing just to watch the Lions eat it. But watching it be dissected ect. There were some really small children watching that I think. Saw one little boy in a photo. To be honest I didn't look at anymore than that one.

And how do you explain/justify to the kids about why they are killing the giraffe?

[glitterfart]

I don't get why they wouldn't give it to another zoo. I understand that in the wild this kind of thing happens, but that's the wild snd not a zoo.