Content
Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
The Current

Conservation & the killing of Marius the giraffe at the Copenhagen Zoo

Some of the most ferocious animals at the Copenhagen zoo, may be the zookeepers. When the Copenhagen zoo carved up a healthy giraffe to feed its lions and then culled its prides, much of the world's animal lovers freaked. Today we discuss cultural differences when it comes to conservation....
CBC Radio ·
Some of the most ferocious animals at the Copenhagen zoo, may be the zookeepers. When the Copenhagen zoo carved up a healthy giraffe to feed its lions and then culled its prides, much of the world's animal lovers freaked. Today we discuss cultural differences when it comes to conservation.

copenhagen-zoo-560.jpg

People look at the carcass of the giraffe Marius after it was killed in Copenhagen Zoo, an action the zoo said
was in line with anti-inbreeding rules meant to ensure a healthy giraffe population. The giraffe, named Marius,
was shot in the head and cut apart in front of spectators including children. Reuters/Kasper Palsnov/Scanpix


This giraffe walked out here at quarter past 9. It was let out into its yard over there. Then there was a zoo keeper with some rye bread. It really likes rye bread. He said here you go Marius here's some rye bread. He put is head forward and I shot him through the brain. It sounds violent but Marius had no idea what was coming. He got his bread and then he died.Zookeeper at Copenhagen Zoo explains Marius' last moments to a crowd

Marius the Giraffe was just 18 months old when he took his last meal at the Copenhagen zoo. He was dissected in front of visiting schoolchildren and then tossed to the zoo's lions. The zoo says it had no choice, the animal had to be destroyed to avoid in-breeding.

The zoo often runs out of options, because earlier this week, it euthanized four lions, two cubs and their parents. This time it was to make room ... for a new lion. The killing of healthy animals has infuriated many people.


To give us a sense of how this has all unfolded in Denmark, we were joined by Kristian Madsen. He is a journalist with Danish Newspaper, Politiken and joined us by phone from Copenhagen.


You don't have to be an animal rights advocate to believe something may not be right at the Copenhagen zoo. But animal rights advocates have made up their minds, and they're outraged.

Liz Tyson is the director of The Captive Animals' Protection Society and she was in Manchester, England.


The zoo has its defenders. What many people might consider mayhem, may be good zoo management. And while it may not be the way Canadians would prefer to treat caged animals, it's different in Denmark.

Robert Young is a professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Salford -- just north of London in the United Kingdom.


Should Zoo's be allowed to kill healthy animals to maintain their breeding programs?

Tweet us @thecurrentcbc. Or e-mail us through our website. Find us on Facebook. Call us toll-free at 1 877 287 7366. And as always if you missed anything on The Current, grab a podcast.

This segment was produced by The Current's Catherine Kalbfleisch and Lara O'Brien.

More from this episode