Bizarre: Zoo Asks Vistors To Donate Their Pets To Feed Tigers

Most of you have been to a zoo and seen where they ask for donations.

Most of the time, they only request a few dollars; however, a zoo in Denmark asks for pets as a donation.

The Aalborg Zoo in Denmark announced in a Facebook post that it will receive donations of pet rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs for its tigers and lions.

A Danish zoo put out a call for donations of unwanted pets and animals, including chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.

“That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,” the zoo said. https://t.co/aQKK3tMDmS pic.twitter.com/F6SCanhvqy

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 5, 2025

The New York Times reported more on the bizarre request from the zoo:

A zoo in Denmark is asking pet owners to donate their animal companions — their guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and even small horses — to feed to its predators.
In a Facebook post last Thursday, the Aalborg Zoo noted that it welcomed animals that, regardless of circumstance, might be nearing the end of their lives. These animals would be “gently euthanized” by trained employees and then used as food for the zoo’s predators, like its European lynx, the zoo notes on its website. Lions and tigers are also part of the zoo’s predator exhibits.

The donations would help the zoo mimic the natural food chain by feeding whole prey to its predators, the post said: “This way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being for our predators.”

The post linked to the zoo’s website, which described the process for donating horses as food. “Our needs vary throughout the year, and there may be a waiting list,” the site explains. For horses, certain conditions must be met, including the horse not having recently been treated for an illness.

“The horse will be delivered alive to Aalborg Zoo, where the horse will be euthanized by a zookeeper and a veterinarian and then slaughtered,” the zoo website says.
The zoo also accepts chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, during weekdays “between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., but no more than four at a time.”

The Facebook post attracted swift backlash, with one commenter describing “a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark.” Another commenter wrote that “feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable.”

The Aaolborg Zoo in Denmark is asking people to bring in their “Unwanted pets” to feed their larger predators.
Here’s an idea, close down your facility if you can’t afford to feed the animals that shouldn’t be there in the first place. pic.twitter.com/cFC5Rj2Rh5

— Shield~Maiden™ MSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC (@Hikergirl84) August 5, 2025

Previously, the zoo offered tax deductions for horses donated to the zoo, according to NBC News:

The post echoed a similar appeal that appeared on the zoo’s website earlier this year, which also called for horses to be donated so long as they were no taller than 4 feet 10 inches, healthy and not treated for illness in the past 30 days.

Horse owners can obtain a tax deduction for the value of the animal, it said.

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Zoos have a “responsibility to imitate the natural food chain” for carnivores that need whole prey for a hunting experience similar to that in the wild, the post said.

“If you have a healthy animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us,” it added. “We ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”

The post quickly sparked online debate drawing criticism from some quarters.