Lions at Nuremberg Zoo receive meals in full view of spectators, consisting of baboons.
Controversy at Nuremberg Zoo: Euthanasia and Feeding of Baboons to Carnivores Sparks Outrage
A controversy has erupted at Nuremberg Zoo, Germany, following the euthanasia of 12 healthy Guinea baboons and the subsequent feeding of their carcasses to the zoo's carnivores, including lions, tigers, and wolves. This decision, made due to overcrowding in the enclosure, has sparked significant public outrage and protests from animal rights groups.
The zoo justifies this controversial move by stating that the baboon population had grown to 43, far exceeding the enclosure's capacity of 25, leading to increased conflicts causing injuries among the animals. They had tried for many years to manage population size through contraception and rehoming, but no alternative solutions or relocation agreements with other zoos could be reached. The euthanasia was conducted in accordance with animal welfare regulations, with the animals shot humanely in transport crates.
Feeding the baboon carcasses to predators serves an animal welfare purpose, according to the zoo, by providing fur and bones, which promote dental health in the carnivores, potentially reducing the need for anesthesia-based dental care. Some baboon remains were also used for research and museum collections.
However, the zoo's staff have received death threats, illustrating the intense backlash. Activists view the cull as a result of "irresponsible and unsustainable breeding policies," condemning the killing of healthy animals. On July 31, 2025, videos surfaced online showing deceased baboons being fed to lions during operating hours and in the presence of visitors, including children.
The zoo has not issued a statement regarding the incident of feeding the baboons to the animals. Upon request by inFranken.de, the zoo issued a statement regarding the method of feeding, noting that the heads of the baboons were removed for scientific purposes and the hands and feet were removed out of respect for zoo visitors.
The zoo states that this method of feeding has several reasons. Whole locusts are fed to spoonbills, whole fish to sea lions and penguins, whole day-old chicks to meerkats, and whole zebra meat, with fur intact, is fed to zebras. The limbs of the decapitated baboons were removed before being fed to the lions.
Two female baboons that died during anesthesia have been sent to the pathology for clarification of the cause of death and will not be fed to the animals. The controversy involves ethical concerns over culling healthy primates and feeding them to predators versus the zoo's claim that it was an unavoidable welfare decision due to overcrowding and lack of alternatives.
As the debate shows no signs of abating, animal welfare organizations have criticized the zoo's handling of the situation and have called for protests. Our author warns in her commentary that such actions could become common practice in the future.
The zoo's decision to euthanize healthy Guinea baboons and feed their remains to predators has sparked controversies, with critics referring to it as a manifestation of irresponsible lifestyle and home-and-garden management within the zoo. This incident has also brought ethical concerns about the treatment of animals to the forefront, inspiring debates among animal rights groups regarding appropriate home-and-garden practices in such environments.
