Zoo asks for unwanted pets to feed to lions and tigers
Listen to the story (American accent)
A zoo in northern Denmark is asking people to give them their unwanted pets.
The Aalborg Zoo is looking for animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. These animals will not become new exhibits for visitors. Instead, they will become food for the zoo’s predators, like lions and tigers.
The zoo explained its request on its Facebook page. It wants to copy the natural food chain, how animals find and eat food in nature. The zoo’s meat-eating animals, like the Asiatic lion and European lynx, need a diet with meat, fur, and bones. The zoo says this is very important for the predators’ health and helps them behave naturally.
Trained staff humanely kill the donated animals before they are fed to the predators.
This plan has started a big discussion online. Some people strongly disagree with the idea of turning pets into food for other animals. However, others support the zoo. They praise the zoo for trying to create a natural food environment.
Pia Nielsen, a director at the zoo, said this program is not new. It has been happening for many years and is common in other Danish zoos. She said that giving predators whole animals is the best way to provide a natural diet.
This is not the first time a Danish zoo has received strong criticism. In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy young giraffe named Marius. The zoo said this was necessary to stop breeding between animals that are from the same family. The giraffe’s body was then used for scientific research and to feed the zoo's lions.
Vocabulary31 words
- Zoo
- A park where many different animals are kept so people can see them
- Unwanted
- Something you do not want anymore
- Exhibit
- something on display for people to look at, especially at a museum or art gallery
- Instead
- rather than; in place of something else; “not that, but something else”; substitute; alternative
- Predator
- An animal that hunts and eats other animals;
- Explain
- to make something clear or easy to understand
- Request
- to ask for something
- Facebook page
- a page on Facebook where a person or company can share news and pictures
- Natural
- Something that comes from nature and is not made by people; not changed
- Food chain -
- Nature
- The living world around us; The natural world, including plants, animals, and the environment
- Diet
- The kind of food and drinks that a person/animal usually eats
- Fur
- The soft hair that covers the bodies of some animals
- Bone
- 🦴; A hard, white part of the body that supports the body and protects the organs
- Behave
- How someone acts or conducts themselves; the way or manner a person carries themself
- Trained
- Having learned and practiced to do something well
- Staff
- The people who work for a company or organization; workers
- Humanely
- In a way that is kind and does not cause pain
- Kill
- To make something or someone stop living; murder
- Donate
- to give money, food or goods to charity; to give something away to help others
- Feed
- To give food to an animal or person
- Discussion
- to talk about something with other people and share ideas; process of talking about something in order to reach a decision
- Praise
- to cheer; to compliment; to approve of; to say nice things about
- Environment
- the atmosphere or condition; surroundings; mood
- Director
- boss, leader, head, manager
- Program
- project; initiative; a group of activities or things to be achieved; a plan with many parts
- Provide
- to give or supply something that is needed or requested
- Criticism
- a negative comment or negative opinion about something;
- Breeding
- animals making babies
- Scientific
- Related to science;
- Research
- the process/act of studying something to learn more about it and gain new understanding
Quiz
Answer key
1. They will become food for predators. 2. Staff at the zoo. 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A zoo in _____ Denmark is asking people to give them their _____ pets.
The Aalborg Zoo is _____ for animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. _____ animals will not become new exhibits for _____. Instead, they will become food for the zoo’s predators, like _____ and tigers.
The _____ explained its request on its Facebook _____. It wants to copy the natural food _____, how animals find and eat _____ in nature. The zoo’s meat-eating animals, like the Asiatic _____ and European lynx, need a diet with meat, _____, and bones. The zoo says this is very important for the _____ health and helps them behave naturally.
_____ staff humanely kill the donated animals before they _____ fed to the predators.
This plan has started a _____ discussion online. Some people strongly disagree with the _____ of turning pets into food for other animals. _____, others support the zoo. They praise the zoo for trying to create a _____ food environment.
Pia Nielsen, a director at the zoo, _____ this program is not new. It has been happening for many years and is _____ in other Danish zoos. She said that giving predators _____ animals is the best way to provide a natural diet.
_____ is not the first time a Danish zoo has received strong _____. In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy young giraffe _____ Marius. The zoo said this was necessary to stop breeding _____ animals that are from the same family. The _____ body was then used for scientific research and to feed the zoo's _____.
Discussion questions
- The zoo says this program is important for the predators' health. Do you think an animal's health is more important than public opinion?
- How do you feel about the idea of using pets like rabbits and guinea pigs as food for other animals? Why do you feel this way?
- If you had an unwanted pet, would you be willing to donate it to the zoo for this program? What would make you decide one way or the other?
- The Copenhagen Zoo killed a giraffe and used it for food. Do you think this is a similar situation to the Aalborg Zoo's plan? Why or why not?
- Do you think zoos have a responsibility to copy how animals eat and behave in nature, even if it might upset some people?
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