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http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/09/marius-the-giraffe-skinned-and-fed-to-lions-as-children-look-on-4296818/
Sunday 9 Feb 2014 3:59 pm
Warning: Some people may find the images below upsetting
Marius the giraffe skinned & fed to lions as kids look on
Zoo visitors, including young children, look on as Marius is skinned (Picture: AFP/Getty)
The healthy young giraffe put down in a zoo to prevent it from breeding has been skinned and fed to lions in front of members of the public, including young children.
Eighteen-month-old Marius was shot in the head with a bolt pistol this morning at Copenhagen Zoo despite a petition calling for him to be spared attracting more than 20,000 signatures.
Other zoos offered a home for Marius, while a private individual said they would pay €500,000 (£415,000) for the giraffe, but all offers were rejected.
Marius the giraffe skinned and fed to lions as children look onMarius was killed despite being perfectly healthy
(Picture: AFP/Getty)
After the young giraffe was killed, zoo visitors were invited to watch his autopsy, before his remains were given to the zoo’s lions.
Spokesman Tobias Stenbaek Bro said the zoo had seven giraffes left, many of whom had similar genes for breeding as Marius.
The giraffe was killed as the zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, which has strict rules on interbreeding.
Its membership also meant it could only sell the giraffe to a zoo or organisation that followed the same rules.
Marius the giraffe skinned and fed to lions as children look on
The zoo rejected offers to rehome Marius (Picture: EPA)
The Danish zoo’s scientific director Bengt Holst said: ‘The most important factor must be that the animals are healthy physically and behaviourally and that they have a good life while they are living whether this life is long or short. This is something that Copenhagen Zoo believes strongly in.’
Animal Rights Sweden said Marius being put down illustrated why it was against zoos full stop.
‘It is no secret that animals are killed when there is no longer space, or if the animals don’t have genes that are interesting enough. The only way to stop this is to not visit zoos,’ the group said.
‘When the cute animal babies that attract visitors grow up they are not as interesting anymore.’
Marius the giraffe skinned and fed to lions as children look on
Marius’ carcass was fed to lions at the zoo (Picture: AP)
Sunday 9 Feb 2014 3:59 pm
Warning: Some people may find the images below upsetting
Marius the giraffe skinned & fed to lions as kids look on
Zoo visitors, including young children, look on as Marius is skinned (Picture: AFP/Getty)
The healthy young giraffe put down in a zoo to prevent it from breeding has been skinned and fed to lions in front of members of the public, including young children.
Eighteen-month-old Marius was shot in the head with a bolt pistol this morning at Copenhagen Zoo despite a petition calling for him to be spared attracting more than 20,000 signatures.
Other zoos offered a home for Marius, while a private individual said they would pay €500,000 (£415,000) for the giraffe, but all offers were rejected.
Marius the giraffe skinned and fed to lions as children look onMarius was killed despite being perfectly healthy
(Picture: AFP/Getty)
After the young giraffe was killed, zoo visitors were invited to watch his autopsy, before his remains were given to the zoo’s lions.
Spokesman Tobias Stenbaek Bro said the zoo had seven giraffes left, many of whom had similar genes for breeding as Marius.
The giraffe was killed as the zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, which has strict rules on interbreeding.
Its membership also meant it could only sell the giraffe to a zoo or organisation that followed the same rules.
Marius the giraffe skinned and fed to lions as children look on
The zoo rejected offers to rehome Marius (Picture: EPA)
The Danish zoo’s scientific director Bengt Holst said: ‘The most important factor must be that the animals are healthy physically and behaviourally and that they have a good life while they are living whether this life is long or short. This is something that Copenhagen Zoo believes strongly in.’
Animal Rights Sweden said Marius being put down illustrated why it was against zoos full stop.
‘It is no secret that animals are killed when there is no longer space, or if the animals don’t have genes that are interesting enough. The only way to stop this is to not visit zoos,’ the group said.
‘When the cute animal babies that attract visitors grow up they are not as interesting anymore.’
Marius the giraffe skinned and fed to lions as children look on
Marius’ carcass was fed to lions at the zoo (Picture: AP)