Zoo located in Germany euthanizes 12 healthy baboons due to lack of available living space.
In the German city of Nuremberg, the Tiergarten Nuernberg zoo has found itself at the centre of a heated debate following the euthanization of 12 healthy Guinea baboons on Tuesday. The decision was made due to overcrowding, with the baboon troop growing to 43 individuals, far exceeding the enclosure's intended capacity of 25. This overpopulation led to more conflicts among the animals, resulting in increased aggression and injuries.
The zoo had exhausted all alternatives, including attempts to relocate the animals to other zoos (which were at capacity) and using contraception (which had failed). Expanding the habitat was deemed not feasible, nor could the baboons be released into the wild. Zoo director Dag Encke argued that the killings were necessary to maintain a healthy population and avoid conflict with animal protection laws.
However, the legality and justification of this cull have been strongly contested by animal rights organizations. Groups such as Pro Wildlife and the German Federation for the Protection of Animals have condemned the killing, calling it unnecessary and a violation of animal protection laws. They argue the zoo did not sufficiently pursue other solutions like relocation or enclosure expansion, and claim this reflects poor management and double standards—pointing out that the zoo invests heavily in acquiring new animals while culling healthy ones. Legal actions and criminal complaints based on the Animal Protection Law have been initiated against the zoo’s administration.
On Tuesday morning, the zoo announced it was closing for the day for unspecified "operational reasons." Later in the afternoon, seven activists climbed over a wall into the zoo, and one woman glued her hands to the ground in protest. The zoo's deputy director, Joerg Beckmann, stated that the chosen animals for euthanasia were not pregnant females or part of studies, and they were shot.
This is not the first time a zoo's actions regarding animal culling have sparked controversy. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo caused an outcry when it killed a healthy 2-year-old giraffe, butchered its carcass in front of a crowd that included children, and then fed it to lions.
As the debate continues, the future of the Guinea baboon population at the Tiergarten Nuernberg zoo remains uncertain. Animal rights groups will continue to press for answers and seek justice for the euthanized baboons, while the zoo maintains its stance that the cull was necessary to ensure the safety and health of its animals and visitors.
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- The controversial due to animal culling has also extended to discussions about the institutions' commitments to health-and-wellness, not just for the animals, but also for their mental health, as the bio-psychological effects of such actions on primates are a matter of concern.
- While focus on fitness-and-exercise for humans often takes the spotlight, this event has shed light on the ethical implications of science as it pertains to animal health and welfare, prompting scrutiny into research methods and the treatment of animals within a scientific context.
