Very sad!

[BirdSquawk]

I am very frustrated with the Copenhagen zoo, in case anybody didn't know about a month ago they killed a healthy baby giraffe and dissected it before feeding it to lions, simply to 'prevent inbreeding'. Now they've killed four lions, including two young cubs, because a new male lion who was coming to the zoo wouldn't get along with them. I just don't think it's responsible to be killing animals like this simply because there is no need for them. They said they tried finding new homes for the animals, but I can't believe that no other place would take them, especially when they heard what their fate would be. I don't get it, at least the giraffe was fed to animals who would benefit from the native food, no word on what they did to the lions.

 

[jenphilly]

I wonder if they do the same with their zoo keepers when its time to replace them with new personnel...

After the outcry over the giraffe, it is beyond logic to me that they killed lions, like there are so many running around that no zoo anywhere in the world would not have loved to take them in, especially the babies!

I'll leave it here, cause from this point out I'll be wishing horrible vile things on the decision makers and I'd rather keep those dark, vicious thoughts to the voices that live in my head....

 

[LauraBear]

I agree with you. Coming from the zoo field, it's a bit disgruntling to hear about this happening. It really gives Zoo's a bad name. Now I might get some flame from this but I understand the giraffe euthanasia more than I get the lion one.
Zoo's work under a SSP, or species survival plan, and unfortunately the one in America is much different then the one in Europe. Over in Europe, many zoos breed simply because they believe it is healthier for the female to experience gestation periods and motherhood then to deprive them of said experiences. Which I understand to a degree, a primitive animals behavior biologically is to reproduce and ensure the survival of their own. They also believe that contraceptives are dangerous which I also understand. After years of American Zoos putting some of their big cats on contraceptives, we are left with infertile animals once we're ready to use their reproductive skills. Thus killing a good genetic line.

So Marius, the giraffe, came to be simply because of those beliefs. And when it came down to it unfortunately, he was not genetically viable to any European Zoo population, hence the reason why he was put down.

Now when you get to the lion portion, this one I do not understand at all. And that is absolutely senseless, I'll have to read up more on it to understand the logic behind it, if there's any. Why accept a new male lion when you've got two elderly lions that are supposedly "on their last leg" and two "money-making" cubs. That just doesn't make sense. Unfortunately when some people manage a zoo they're more interested in money, reproduction, etc then in the livelihood of the animals they already possess.

Even at my zoo, that I work at, we have an elderly Tiger that's been recently pushed to the side because of the Two new ones my zoo accepted. And many of us are afraid that those in charge will follow similar paths of thought like that of Copenhagen Zoo... new things speak more than old things unfortunately.


EDIT: I should add, that just because I understand the reasoning, in no way means that I agree. That's important to know. Very important...

 

[Sterling1113]

I know nothing about the lions being euthanized, and I'm sure that they have their reasons whatever they may be, however I feel like it's hard for me to determine an opinion without knowing the FULL story, which when it comes to the media is impossible to obtain. So many things are over dramatized, just to make people look.
I can understand the giraffe though, it was to prevent inbreeding, and no other zoos had availability or different genetic lines, so it was the "best decision" there was. Although it's like choosing the shinier of two turds, at that point anything would have upset people.
I think it's nice they used the giraffe for educational purposes, though. And, instead of being thrown in a trash bag, it was fed to the other animals, which in the wild would normally be feeding on them anyways.
I think a good point was made that when it comes to little things like fish and reptiles, people don't mind. But if you kill a cute, story-time animal for humane reasons then everybody goes nuts..
-shrugs- sort of a controversial topic if you ask me. I don't have a stand on either "side" really, I just sort of do my best to learn from it. But then again I'm a really neutral person, you'll never find me arguing about politics or anything on social media.. haha.

 

[LauraBear]

I think a good point was made that when it comes to little things like fish and reptiles, people don't mind. But if you kill a cute, story-time animal for humane reasons then everybody goes nuts..

I had mentioned this with a whole bunch of my zoo acquaintances. A giraffe, for all intensive purposes is high population hoofstock animal... and Reticulated giraffes (which is what Marius was) are not endangered in the least. They are a common zoo spokes-animal, and thus get high commercial value. But you go to Africa and they are equal to a white-tailed deer to us. I guess it depends on whether you believe in population control or not.

And now... I will shut my overly opinionated mouth.

 

[RavensGryf]

Oh but your 'overly opinionated mouth' as you put it, is saying very interesting things! It must be interesting to work at a zoo. I know many, many people try to get a zoo job, and even with a related degree I hear it's really hard to get in. More applicants than available jobs!

 

[LauraBear]

It's incredibly hard to get a zoo job! I managed to weasel my way in through the educational aspect. I've been teaching since I was 16... first with lifeguarding and then into natural sciences. So I was an excellent candidate I guess you could say. Not many people I feel aim for the education department in zoos, but it's been such a great experience. And I'm enjoying some free reign on a forum... we're not really allowed to publicly speak our minds... Zoo's watch they're employees like a hawk.

But anyways, I'm glad someone appreciates my insight.

 

[SpotsandSally]

Gonna have to agree with LauraBear on this one.. Reticulated giraffes are far from endangered, and it's only getting hype because it's an 'exotic' or 'rare' animal that should be protected.

Not sure about the lions, as it seems quite crazy to euthanize 4 lions for 1 lion, especially 2 young ones (not sure on sexes, but couldn't you castrate* the male(s) and at least sell 1?). But, I'd have to look into that.


*yes I realize they believe that all animals should be able to breed. But does this apply to males?

 

[hacatta]

their were zoos that said they wanted the giraffe.
Also they have been getting a lot op negative responses from people here ,but they just don't care.
And the 2 young lions were killed because they couldn't live without their parents.
I absolutely dislike this zoo,and a lot of people here aren't ever going their anymore.

 

[Sterling1113]

Yeah, like I said I haven't done any research on the lions thing because it's all going to be blown up by the media anyways, so unless you work there it's hard to get a straight story.
I think other zoos wanted the giraffe, but they shared the same genetic line so there would still be risk of inbreeding.