Zoo kills healthy young giraffe, feeds to lions
- 10 years ago
**PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES**
Ignoring a storm of criticism from animal rights activists...the Copenhagen zoo goes though with its plan to kill and butcher a young healthy giraffe, named Marius.
The zoo defended its decision, saying the 18-month-old giraffe had to be put down because of a lack of space.
It says it also had to comply with rules on in-breeding to ensure a healthy giraffe population.
(SOUNDBITE) (Danish) VETERINARIAN, MADS BERTELSEN, SAYING:
"This giraffe walked out here at quarter past nine, it was let out into its yard over there. Then there was a zookeeper with some rye bread. It really likes rye bread, and he said 'here you go Marius, here is some rye bread'. I stood behind with a rifle, and when he put his head forward and ate the rye bread, then I shot him through the brain. It sounds violent, but it means that Marius had no idea of what was coming. He got his bread, then he died."
Graphic handout video from t
Ignoring a storm of criticism from animal rights activists...the Copenhagen zoo goes though with its plan to kill and butcher a young healthy giraffe, named Marius.
The zoo defended its decision, saying the 18-month-old giraffe had to be put down because of a lack of space.
It says it also had to comply with rules on in-breeding to ensure a healthy giraffe population.
(SOUNDBITE) (Danish) VETERINARIAN, MADS BERTELSEN, SAYING:
"This giraffe walked out here at quarter past nine, it was let out into its yard over there. Then there was a zookeeper with some rye bread. It really likes rye bread, and he said 'here you go Marius, here is some rye bread'. I stood behind with a rifle, and when he put his head forward and ate the rye bread, then I shot him through the brain. It sounds violent, but it means that Marius had no idea of what was coming. He got his bread, then he died."
Graphic handout video from t