Why zoos sometimes feed their own animals

Magdeburg can accommodate poultry

No animals have yet been fed to the zoo in Magdeburg, said zoo spokeswoman Regina Jembere. Even though thousands of wild birds have died from bird flu in some parts of Germany, the zoo is not currently considering slaughtering any poultry. "We have a number of bird species that can be housed indoors. That way, visitors can also see them," said Jembere.

Cattle and rabbits for the Bergzoo vultures

Some animals at the Bergzoo Halle are fed on dead animals because they are carnivores, explained Paulsen. Two lions, a tiger and several vultures, for example, are fed beef from local slaughterhouses at the weekend. These are older animals.

In addition, the big cats are fed three rabbits, three chickens and an additional kilo of meat in the form of lures every week, according to Paulsen. Small food animals such as rabbits, chickens, mice, rats, chicks and guinea pigs come from specialized feed retailers and are fed to owls, eagles and meerkats, among others. The zoo is also home to fish eaters such as giant otters and penguins. "Our crocodile gets fish once a week and meat once a week," said Paulsen.

Peta: Zoos treat animals "like disposable goods"

Feeding the meat of zoo-owned animals or animals kept for food is equally problematic from an animal rights perspective, said Yvonne Würz from the animal rights organization Peta. "Because the animals on display have absolutely no place in captivity."

But by using killed zebras as food for other animals, for example, zoos are trying to sell their "unscrupulous" actions to the outside world as an economically sensible solution, said Würz. Zoos treat animals "like disposable goods", according to the animal rights activist.

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