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Zebras at Leipzig Zoo: "A good life at the zoo before being slaughtered"

Photo: Gabor Krieg / imago/PicturePoint

The Leipzig Zoo is defending itself against harsh criticism after a slaughtered zebra stallion was fed to lions in front of visitors in March. Before the slaughter of the 15-year-old animal, the zoo had tried for a year to accommodate the stallion elsewhere, said the director of the Leipzig Zoo, Jörg Junhold.

"That didn't work because there was no room in other zoos. The last option in these cases – killing to feed to predators – is common practice," said The stallion was fed fresh to the lions after slaughter.

Animals are killed in zoos when, for example, there is a threat of rank fights within a herd, explains the director of Wuppertal Zoo, Arne Lawrenz. "We are better in the zoo than in nature. Most of our animals survive and then we have to intervene," said veterinarian Junhold.

PETA laments senseless death of zebra

The focus is always on the welfare of all animals, he said. "Even that of the slain animal. Before its slaughter, it had a good life in the zoo – unlike many other animals from large breeds. Feeding it makes sense and is the right thing to do – if only because the meat is of good quality.«

A few years ago, the slaughter of another zoo animal had already caused outrage – giraffe Marius at Copenhagen Zoo. Even then, experts had classified the zoo's approach as courageous and correct.

The current discussion in Leipzig was triggered after the transfer of an animal keeper became known. He was regularly seen in the MDR program "Elefant, Tiger und Co". Junhold did not comment on the reasons for the nurse's transfer: "I can understand the excitement or the interest – in a way, the emotions. But we also want to ask for understanding that we do not give sensitive things to the outside world.«

The fact that a zebra is fed shows how low the importance of the animals are for zoo officials, criticized the animal rights organization Peta. There is no doubt that a lion needs meat to survive, so feeding a zebra is no worse from an animal welfare point of view than buying meat wholesale, said wildlife expert Peter Höffken. But: "Both are equally pointless, because lions have no place in Germany," he added. The animals are only kept in zoos to attract visitors.

apr/dpa