Viral Jokes After Zoo Releases Statement Asking People To Donate Pets So Their Animals Can Eat

A Danish zoo is asking local residents to donate their pets so that they can be their hungry predators‘ lunch special.

The request was met with wild responses as social media users began asking if they could donate their in-laws or even the children they had “grown tired” of.

“Are they taking children on the naughty list too? Asking for a parent (or two),” one asked online.

A Danish zoo asked locals to donate pets to be the main course for their hungry predators

Aalborg Zoo exterior with parked vehicles, highlighting a zoo encouraging public to donate pets to feed predators.

Image credits: Google Maps

The Aalborg Zoo in Aalborg, Denmark, gave a shout-out to people raising small animals and said they could feed their “small pets” to the animals at the zoo.

The initiative was part of the zoo’s effort to feed their ferocious predators with food they would “naturally hunt in the wild.”

Close-up of a predator with mouth wide open showing sharp teeth, related to donating pets to feed zoo predators.

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

“Did you know that you can donate smaller pets to Aalborg Zoo?” read the zoo’s post.

“Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators,” they continued. “Especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild.”

The Aalborg Zoo in Aalborg, Denmark, said they were accepting animals like chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses

Child holding a hat up to a polar bear underwater, highlighting zoo efforts to encourage pet donations to feed predators.

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

The northern Denmark zoo said they had the responsibility of mimicking the “natural food chain” to keep their carnivores happy. And to do this, the chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs belonging to outsiders could play a role.

“In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals – in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity,” the zoo said.

Lion yawning with lion cubs nearby in a zoo enclosure, highlighting zoo encourages public to donate pets for feeding predators.

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

In cases where healthy animals had to be put down for various reasons, people were welcome to donate them.

The donated animals would be gently euthanized by the zoo’s trained staff and then “used as fodder.”

“That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,” they added.

Furthermore, the zoo also said it would accept horses, which would also be euthanized and fed to animals. They noted that the horses should have been treated for any kind of illness at least a month before they were donated.

The initiative was to fulfill the zoo’s responsibility of feeding their carnivores with food they would “naturally hunt in the wild”

Two tigers inside a zoo enclosure, illustrating the concept of donating pets to help feed zoo predators.

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

Text message on a phone screen showing a conversation with the phrase Can I donate my in-law about pet donation for feeding predators.

Screenshot of a social media comment joking about donating pets to help feed zoo predators as encouraged by the public campaign.

Horses that are a “maximum of 147 cm at the withers” would be accepted, and they must have horse passports, Aalborg Zoo said.

Regarding other species, they accept small animals like chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time. But “no more than four at a time” would be accepted.

Two golden lion tamarins resting on a tree branch at a zoo promoting pet donations to feed predators.

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

Comment suggesting a fun way to say goodbye, involving a zoo, lion’s den, and feeding predators through donation.

Screenshot of a social media post joking about donating a pet to help feed predators at the zoo.

The announcement triggered a riot of responses online, with one netizen saying, “It gives ‘going to the zoo’ a whole new meaning! If you don’t behave you’re ‘going to the zoo!’”

“I’m gonna show this to my cats later when they yell at me,” one joked, while another quipped, “I can provide my neighbors cat..I’m tired of it in my flowers.”

“For all the people who are looking to get rid of there roosters .. consider this instead of dumping them!!” one said.

Another asked, “Can I donate my in-law?”

The donated animals would be gently euthanized by trained staff, the zoo said

Group of chickens foraging in a grassy area, illustrating the concept of donating pets to help feed zoo predators.

Image credits: Zachariah Smith/Unsplash

Comment from Kristina Holst Jonas checking her calendar to confirm it's not April 1st amid pet donation and predator feeding discussion.

Comment saying carnivorous animals eat animals, highlighting donation of pets to feed zoo predators.

But naysayers called it a “sick invention.”

“If you can’t afford to feed the animals, then close. Your request for house pets is insane,” one said.

The zoo responded to some parents who humorously offered to donate the children they had “grown tired” of.

“Your children are very welcome at the zoo, but not as food… here we only accept animals with feathers or fur,” the Danish zoo said.

They suggested visiting the zoo for a few hours to keep their children happy.

Two guinea pigs eating shredded carrots on a wooden floor related to donating pets to help feed predators.

Image credits: Bonnie Kittle/Unsplash

Comment from Denise Crawford about overcrowded prisons, expressing concern with a thinking face emoji.

Comment suggesting lions should hunt their own food, related to donating pets to feed zoo predators discussion.

Pia Nielsen, deputy director of Aalborg zoo, spoke about the initiative and said they have been feeding their carnivores with smaller livestock for many years.

“When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones etc to give them as natural a diet as possible,” Pia said in a statement.

Parents humorously offered to donate the children they had “grown tired” of

Dog and penguin face each other through glass at zoo, illustrating pets donated to help feed the predators.

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

Pia asserted that it “makes sense” to let animals that need to be euthanized for various reasons “be of use in this way.”

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

Image credits: Aalborg Zoo

In 2014, another Danish zoo came under scrutiny for euthanizing a healthy young giraffe named Marius to avoid inbreeding.

Despite widespread protests, the 18-month-old giraffe was dismembered in front of an audience, including children, at the zoo.

The carcass of Marius was partly used for research and partly fed to the lions, tigers, and leopards at the zoo.

Another zoo in Sweden was under fire for putting down nine healthy lion cubs between 2012 and 2018 because they couldn’t afford to keep them.

Netizens had wild reactions to the zoo’s announcement

Comment suggesting raising rabbits to donate pets for feeding predators at the zoo, referencing in-law donation humor.

Social media comment joking about donating pets, referencing zoo’s request to help feed predator animals.

Dan Dawson reacting to a zoo's call for pet donations to help feed predators, expressing shock about pets being eaten.

Social media post mentioning donating pets to help feed zoo predators as part of a public encouragement campaign.

Comment supporting pet donation to help feed predators, mentioning unwanted animals and euthanasia concerns.

Comment on social media mentioning feeding family with rabbits and chickens, related to donating pets to feed predators at a zoo.

User comment about zoo campaign encouraging pet donations to help feed predators, mentioning marketing strategy and attention.

Comment about donating pets to help feed predators, humorously mentioning ex-husband instead of small pets.

Comment from Cruz McClelland humorously urging to donate all chihuahuas to help feed zoo predators related to pet donation campaign.

Comment by Dan Kurtz asking what is happening, related to donating pets to feed zoo predators.

Comment suggesting feeding zookeepers to predators, humorously referencing donating pets to help feed predators.

Comment about donating pets to feed predators, questioning if former workmates count as donations.

Comment from Matt Strempel humorously thanking for a pet threat suggestion to feed predators at the zoo.

Comment from social media discussing donating pets to feed zoo predators, mentioning sparky and lions, referencing donation concerns.

Comment from Lily Jackson joking about zoo animals eating pets, relating to donating pets to feed predators at zoo.

Comment from Mads Larsen sharing a story about donating horses to a lion zoo to help feed predators.

Social media comment criticizing zoos for imitating the wild amid calls to donate pets to feed predators.

Facebook comment by François Xavier reacting with laughter emoji, humorously noting people discovering animals eat other animals.

Comment questioning the ethics of donating small healthy pets for live feeding to zoo predators.

Facebook comment by Bree Ackerman expressing that donating pets to feed predators seems very cruel as pets are like family members.

Comment discussing ethical concerns about meat consumption and slaughterhouses in relation to donating pets to feed zoo predators.

Comment by Frank Ciszewski questioning the method of euthanizing pets for zoo predator donations in a social media post.

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