Much global attention has been given to the Copenhagen Zoo
in Denmark here in the last few months. Last month the zoo killed a health 18
month-old giraffe by shooting him in the head. After killing the giraffe the
zoo then turned around and feed his body to lions. Now, this upcoming week the
zoo said that it will have to euthanize four lions in order to make room for a
newly arrived young male lion. Certain sources say that the zoo staff members
are “serial killer” and “murderers.” The excuses that the zoo gave in order to
justify the killing of the lions is that they wanted genetic purity and
conservation, noting that the new lion would invariably prey on the cubs, while
there was a risk that the older male lion would try to breed with one of the
female lions that were his offspring. The zoo was extremely worried that the
old male would mate with the two females (his own offspring) and thus give rise
to interbreeding.
There is a cultural divide between the
United States and Europe when it comes to animal euthanasia. Europe, is
relatively more open to euthanizing animals in the name of conservation and
ensuring genetic diversity .Here in America, our zoos prefers to use
contraception to prevent overpopulation or inbreeding, European zoos often
favored allowed animals to breed and express their natural behavior, including
sexual reproduction. In Europe, there is a strict
attempt to maintain genetically pure animals and not waste space in a zoo for
genetically useless specimens. This type of behavior is completely unacceptable.
No animal should have to die just because it isn’t a purebred. All animals have
the right to live.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/26/world/europe/copenhagen-zoo-lions/
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