Petition: Denmark Zoo Feeding Unwanted Pets to Lions Must Be Shut Down

A zoo in Denmark is trying to turn “unwanted pets” into food for the captive predators in their facilities. It is asking the public to consider if they have any unwanted pets – especially small horses, rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs – and to then donate those pets to the zoo.

Sign the petition to stop this horrible campaign and send this zoo’s animals to a sanctuary instead!

The Aalborg Zoo defended this practice, saying “In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute.” What? By feeding their healthy, discarded pets to lions?

Because of course, the zoo wouldn’t want to feed sick animals to their own animals. In fact, the zoo stated that horses must have been illness-free for at least the past month.

To encourage these horse-donations, the zoo is even reminding pet parents that their donations are tax deductible! They can give away their healthy horse to be eaten by a lion and receive a tax deduction as a reward. How morbid.

Pets would be euthanized by zoo staff before being fed – fur, bones, skin, and all – directly to the facility’s Asiatic lion, European lynx and Sumatran tiger.

But, apparently fearing too many people will be eager to take this opportunity to get rid of their pets, the zoo cautioned that pet owners can only donate up to 4 animals at a time.

This is absolutely grotesque. If this zoo can’t figure out another way to feed its animals – besides soliciting rejected pets from the public – then it shouldn’t have animals at all.

Sign the petition to demand the closure of the irresponsible Aalborg Zoo in Denmark! All their animals should be sent to a reputable sanctuary instead!

This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 3 September 2025. Lead Image Credit: ABNordstrand/Shutterstock.