Lessons from America: the proper zoo policy

[airiefairie]

We have probably all heard by now about the controversial decisions at the Copenhagen zoo to put down a giraffe and feed it to the lions in front of the visiting children, and to subsequently put down a few lion cubs because they were planning to introduce a new adult male lion to the zoo, and they were concerned that he would have killed the cubs

Comments

[telemann]

Copenhagen Zoo has put down leopards, tigers, lions, bears, antelopes and hippos in recent years, as well as the young giraffe, Marius.

Ugh, that's just unbelievable.

Good post, so thank you for the write-up.

[policraticus]

I am an American and I find the European stories neither inhumane nor unpleasant. Managing populations of captive animals might be one of e most typically human behaviors around. We can have an honest disagreement about whether the Danes had options beyond euthanizing the giraffe, but that is largely a matter of aesthetics. As for dissecting the remains and feeding it to lions, I find that entirely admirable. We regularly euthanize or slaughter tens of thousands of animals to both satisfy our economic needs and strengthen or propagate the other species. If we are going to keep animals in captivity or manage animals in the wild, controlling population will always be necessary.

[ddstory]

Yep. It's totally admirable. No meat should go wasted! Utilization to the 100%! For a better and more efficient society!

[policraticus]

What should they have done with the carcass? Who better to eat the giraffe than the giraffe's natural predator? If you want to argue that we shouldn't keep animals at all, that is fine. But once we have, we need to not shirk our broader responsibility.

[ddstory]

Oh no no, they should totally feed the giraffe's flesh to the lions; not only that, they should do it before the kids' eyes. It's the only way to teach them about the realities of life!

Oh wait... They already did?

(Warning, graphic image behind link).

[mahnmut]

Wait, you mean ungodly heathen socialist Europe is pro-animal-life, while god-fearing pious America is pro-animal-ahem...-choice? Hmmm interesting.

[mikeyxw]

Naw, we're for forced sterilization of animals. Gotta stay evil.

[fizzyland]

If this index is an affront to your jingoistic sensibilities, the U.S. remains in first place for the number of incarcerated citizens per capita, adult onset diabetes and for believing in angels.

[yes_justice]

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