Overview

• Under the scheme, the zoo accepts up to four small pets per weekday drop-off and live horses no taller than 147 cm that hold a valid passport and have been illness-free for at least 30 days.
• Donated animals are fed whole to carnivores including European lynx, Asiatic lions and Sumatran tigers to replicate natural prey dynamics.
• Horse donors may qualify for tax deductions based on their animals’ weight-determined value.
• Aalborg Zoo has practiced feeding smaller livestock to its carnivores for years to support animal welfare and reduce waste.
• Online reactions have ranged from praise for humane disposal to criticism of using companion animals as feed, leading the zoo to close comments on its public posts.