Denmark’s Aalborg Zoo’s request for pet donations as predator feed sparks heated debate over ethics and animal welfare.

Aalborg Zoo’s Unprecedented Request

In a move that has sparked widespread debate, Denmark’s Aalborg Zoo has issued a public call for donations of small family pets to be used as food for their captive predators. This initiative, announced in August 2025, aims to align the zoo’s feeding practices with natural predator-prey dynamics, while addressing the issue of unwanted pets in the community. The zoo specifies that healthy animals can be donated during weekdays, with a limit of four animals per donation.

The zoo’s management defends this controversial request by emphasizing the benefits of providing naturalistic diets and enrichment for predators. They argue that such a practice prevents waste of unwanted pets and supports the overall welfare of the zoo’s carnivorous inhabitants. However, the unusual solicitation of family pets, including common companions like rabbits and guinea pigs, has drawn significant attention and criticism from various quarters.

Public Reaction and Ethical Concerns

The public’s response to Aalborg Zoo’s request has been mixed. While some see it as a pragmatic solution to manage unwanted pets and enhance predator welfare, others have raised ethical concerns about using animals typically regarded as companions. Animal welfare organizations are likely to weigh in on the matter, questioning the morality of euthanizing pets for this purpose. The zoo’s transparent approach, including social media outreach, differentiates this initiative from standard zoo feeding practices, adding to the controversy.

Denmark has a strong tradition of animal welfare, yet this initiative challenges existing norms and has sparked a broader debate about the ethics of using pets as zoo feed. The initiative could potentially influence zoo feeding policies in Denmark and beyond, prompting regulatory reviews and changes in public attitudes toward pet ownership and animal welfare.

Implications and Future Considerations

The short-term implications of Aalborg Zoo’s campaign include a possible increase in donations of unwanted pets and heightened public and media attention. In the long term, this initiative may prompt other zoos to reconsider their feeding practices and influence animal welfare standards globally. The zoo’s decision-making authority over feeding policies could be affected by public opinion and advocacy from animal welfare organizations, highlighting the potential for policy discussions on animal welfare and zoo management.

While some experts argue that whole-prey feeding is beneficial for predator health and behavior, ethical sourcing and public transparency remain critical considerations. The zoo industry may face pressure to review or update animal welfare standards in response to this initiative, underscoring the need for thoughtful deliberation on the ethics of using pets as feed.

Sources:

Report: Denmark Zoo Pleads for Donations of Family Pets to Feed Captive Predators

Denmark Zoo Asks People to Donate Their Small Pets as Food for Captive Predators

Document on Aalborg Zoo’s Animal Welfare Practices

Aalborg Zoo Annual Report 2023