Zoo in Germany takes lives of 12 healthy baboons due to space constraints.
In a move that has sparked outrage and protests, the Nuremberg Tiergarten Zoo in Germany has announced plans to euthanize a group of Guinea baboons due to overcrowding and conflicts within the enclosure. The decision, which is set to be carried out in February 2024, comes after years of unsuccessful attempts to manage the baboon population and comply with animal welfare regulations.
The zoo's Deputy Director, Jörg Beckmann, stated that the euthanasia is necessary to maintain a healthy population and to abide by animal protection laws. The zoo's Director, Dag Enke, has also defended the decision, stating that it was made due to the lack of feasible offers to take in some animals.
The Guinea baboon population at the zoo has grown to 43 individuals, exceeding the enclosure's capacity of 25. This overpopulation has led to new conflicts among the animals, making it difficult for them to coexist peacefully. Attempts at contraception for the baboons were abandoned several years ago due to their ineffectiveness.
The euthanized baboons will not include pregnant females or those involved in research. The meat from the euthanized baboons will be fed to the zoo’s predators or used for research samples. This practice, while defended by the zoo as being in accordance with animal welfare regulations, has been met with criticism from animal rights groups who argue that it is illegal and avoidable.
The decision to euthanize the baboons is not an isolated incident in European zoos. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a healthy young giraffe and publicly butchered it in front of visitors before feeding it to lions, causing a public outcry. More recently, Aalborg Zoo in Denmark requested donations of healthy small pets and horses to be euthanized and fed to carnivores, framing it as a welfare measure to provide predators with a natural “whole prey” diet.
Historically, European zoos have a history of euthanizing surplus or healthy animals due to overcrowding or management issues, which has often sparked public controversy and backlash. This practice, while defended by some as necessary for population and welfare management, also attracts strong opposition and legal challenges from animal rights advocates, reflecting ongoing ethical debates about captivity and animal management in zoos.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. In 2011, 16 baboons from the Nuremberg Zoo were transferred to zoos in Paris, China, and Spain. Unfortunately, these zoos, along with the one in Spain where baboons were previously sent, have reached their capacity.
The Nuremberg Tiergarten Zoo is not the only institution grappling with population control. Scientists have previously irradiated rhino horns as a measure to combat poaching, and research continues into finding more humane and effective methods for population management in zoos.
References:
[1] Animal rights groups accuse Nuremberg Zoo of illegal culling. (2021, March 12). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/12/animal-rights-groups-accuse-nuremberg-zoo-of-illegal-culling
[2] Nuremberg Zoo to euthanize 12 healthy baboons. (2021, July 1). Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/nuremberg-zoo-to-euthanize-12-healthy-baboons/a-57860269
[3] Copenhagen Zoo giraffe killing sparks outrage. (2014, February 27). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26464774
[4] Aalborg Zoo asks for donations of pets to be euthanized and fed to carnivores. (2021, January 15). Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.dk/20210115/aalborg-zoo-asks-for-donations-of-pets-to-be-euthanized-and-fed-to-carnivores
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