Young giraffe put down in Copenhagen for dubious reasons

[libraryg]

As a volunteer zookeeper at a mid-sized, AZA accredited US zoo, I think this is all a bunch of malarkey. We have our lions, tigers, and giraffes on birth control, and there are only 1 mated pair of each species at our zoo to care for. I have seen no ill effects on any animal on contraception. To allow giraffes or any zoo animals to "do as they do in the wild" and indiscriminately breed is poor, lazy and careless animal husbandry practice, to put it very mildly.


QUOTE=SophieRose;10225767]Here's what the Copenhagen Zoo's website says about contraception:
http://zoo.dk/BesogZoo/Nyhedsarkiv/2014/Februar/Why Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a giraffe.aspx

”Why are the giraffes not given contraceptives?”

“In Copenhagen Zoo we let the animals breed naturally. With naturally we mean that they will get young within the same intervals as they would in the wild. That means that the animals get to carry out their natural behaviours. Parental care is a big part of an animal’s behaviour. It is a 24 hour job in longer periods of their lives and we believe that they should still be able to carry out this type of behaviour also in captivity. Contraceptives have a number of unwanted side effects on the internal organs and we would therefore apply a poorer animal welfare if we did not euthanize.”[/QUOTE]

 

[zoomom]

Wolfie, I don't believe that this is so. At least in the US, the AZA, American Zoological Association, has a large say in which animals are placed at which accredited facilities. They also direct the SSP, Species Survival Plan breeding programs which affects many but not all zoo animals, depending on the rarity. As far as I know, the AZA does not actually own any zoo animals but is indeed the governing body and overseer of US zoos which meet their standards and win accredidation. For example, giant pandas...there are only 4 AZA accredited zoos in the US with pandas, but the bears are owned by China, and are on loan here for study and conservation. All that being said, I have no clue how they run things in Europe.........

Thank you.
The AZA has all control of animals in the SSP at AZA credentialed zoos. Breeding, non-breeding, location, euthanasia, etc. Just for reference, there are roughly 2,500 animal collections in the USA, but roughly only 250 credentialed zoos. I know there is a "global" Zoo and Aquarium Association - but can't recall the acronym.

ETA: (Not trying to preach to the choir here, Libraryg!) This was just meant to back up your post.:seeya:

 

[gregjrichards]

Another male giraffe also called Marius zoo in Denmark is being killed for the same reasons it's outrageous. Here is a link about the second giraffe http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/europe/denmark-zoo-giraffe/

 

[Wolfie]

Wolfie, I don't believe that this is so. At least in the US, the AZA, American Zoological Association, has a large say in which animals are placed at which accredited facilities. They also direct the SSP, Species Survival Plan breeding programs which affects many but not all zoo animals, depending on the rarity. As far as I know, the AZA does not actually own any zoo animals but is indeed the governing body and overseer of US zoos which meet their standards and win accredidation. For example, giant pandas...there are only 4 AZA accredited zoos in the US with pandas, but the bears are owned by China, and are on loan here for study and conservation. All that being said, I have no clue how they run things in Europe.........

What isn't correct- a zoo in the US can't do anything major with an animal without approval from the accrediting organization. I think we agree on that. While "technically" they own an animal, but it's even less control over the animal than a parent has over a child.


I really hope these cases make European zoos review their stance on birth control and breeding of their animals.

 

[gregjrichards]

I just wanted to update you that the second Marius the one in Denmark has thankfully been spared. I'm glad they made the right decision in the end. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/15/world/europe/denmark-zoo-giraffe/

 

[libraryg]

I just wanted to update you that the second Marius the one in Denmark has thankfully been spared. I'm glad they made the right decision in the end. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/15/world/europe/denmark-zoo-giraffe/

I am sooo thankful that this giraffe's life has been spared. They definitely made the right decision IMHO.

 

[magpie]

I'm just sick about this because it should never have happened, not in a million years in a society that I mistakenly thought was somewhat civilized.

IMHO this zoo has proven with the public execution of Marius that, Denmark, is aspiring to be a 3rd world country. Now that's just my opinion so keep your onions to yourself please. I don't argue, I simply state my opinion and move on. I have the freedom to do that in America.

It is also my opinion that exposing children with formidable minds to watch this carnage could possibly bring out the psychopathic curiosity if one or more of the children might have a genetic or learned tendency to go the route of a serial killer. What is it we have all learned about children who kill animals and perhaps dissect their kill? It's the first step to becoming a psychopathic serial killer.

Jack Hanna offered to take Marius and he lost sleep about the zoo's refusal to even entertain anything other than to murder this loving giraffe. Jack Hanna loves animals with all his heart and you can see him talk about Marius and his regrettable demise here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/be...=true&scp=false&origSrc=1053275&did=734910760

Jack Hanna lashes out at Copenhagen zoo

Anderson Cooper 360|Added on February 10, 2014
The Columbus Zoo's Jack Hanna says a Copenhagen zoo's decision to kill a giraffe is "grotesque."

 

[zwiebel]

The scientific director of the zoo is about to be interviewed on BBC Radio now. If you miss it you should be able to listen to the podcast later. It's 'The Report' prog.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03w36r6

 

[liljim]

great show zwi, hopefully it will be archived and people will that are missing it will get a chance to hear it.

 

[matou]

Same zoo puts down four healthy lions to make room for new young male. Two cubs were 10 months old and their parents. sigh.

The zoo said Tuesday it "had to euthanize" two 10-month-old lion cubs along with their "very old" parents, which the BBC reported were 16 and 14 years old. The zoo was unable to find another home for the young lions, who "would have been killed by the new male lion as soon as he got the chance."

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/03/25/giraffe-killing-zoo-euthanizes-four-healthy-lions

 

[LinasK]

Same zoo puts down four healthy lions to make room for new young male. Two cubs were 10 months old and their parents. sigh.

The zoo said Tuesday it "had to euthanize" two 10-month-old lion cubs along with their "very old" parents, which the BBC reported were 16 and 14 years old. The zoo was unable to find another home for the young lions, who "would have been killed by the new male lion as soon as he got the chance."

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/03/25/giraffe-killing-zoo-euthanizes-four-healthy-lions

Ugh!:banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[SpriteGal]

I am speechless. How can they even justify this???

 

[jjenny]

Seriously? They couldn't find homes for lion cubs and lions? Why do I find that hard to believe? Maybe because they had a bunch of offers to buy their giraffe, but they killed him anyway.

 

[OEJ]

What a pathetic "zoo."They don't manage their breeding but just kill them when they become inconvenient. Most captive animal facilities are way out of date. Animals that normally travel many miles a day should never be held captive at all unless they can truly be accommodated according to their natures.