[caption id="attachment_82087" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A February 2014 file photo shows the carcass of Marius, a male giraffe, being eaten by lions after he was put down in Copenhagen Zoo. The zoo has faced renewed protests after it has put down four lions, including two cubs, to make room for a new male lion. (Associated Press)
[/caption]Copenhangen Zoo Sirs More Controversy by Putting Down Four Lions to Make Room for a New Lion

The Copenhagen Zoo looks like it is ready to be the location for "Blackfish II" given that they have just euthanized two old lions and two lion cubs just to make room for a brand new male lion. Their frank practice of employing euthanasia to prevent inbreeding, as they did last month with two-year-old Marius, a healthy giraffe, did not win them any friends. In the case of Marius, they had a wealthy donor offer to buy the giraffe for 500,000 euros ($682,000 USD). Instead, they chose to put him down and literally serve him up as raw giraffe steaks to the lions.

Now, their attention turned to culling the lion herd. In order to make room for a healthy and attractive male lion, they put down two old and wasted lions. Zoo officials also concluded that two lion cubs would likely be killed and eaten by the aggressive male lion so they put the cubs down as well. This new two-year-old male is expected to begin breeding with a younger lioness and spawn a pride of their own.

While a long string of actors have been quick to abandon Sea World over their alleged abuses of sea animals, it cannot be said Sea World engaged in such brazen "culling" practices as the Copenhagen Zoo. In their defense, Sea World supports conservation causes. At the time the zoo whacked and hacked Marius, observers called the incident a public relations fiasco. However, if it was a disastrous affair for the zoo, it didn't take long for them to recovery. You'd think they would be somewhat sensitive to animal rights activists and quietly cull the heard. This latest incident has sparked another uproar. Let's see if it brings about any reforms or if it too will fizzle out.

Source:
Danish zoo that killed giraffe euthanizes 4 lions
www.cbc.ca/news/world/danish-zoo-that-killed-giraffe-euthanizes-4-lions-1.2586090

Giraffe's killing in Copenhagen reveals zoos' dark culling practices
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/giraffe-s-killing-in-copenhagen-reveals-zoos-dark-culling-practices-1.2530562