The Tiergarten Nürnberg zoo in Germany recently made headlines for culling 12 healthy Guinea baboons. This drastic action was taken due to overcrowding and subsequent conflicts within the baboon enclosure. A zoo representative announced that previous contraceptive measures had failed to control the rising baboon population, which had exceeded the enclosure's capacity of 25. Currently, the zoo's baboon population stands at over 40.
Activists reacted strongly to the zoo's decision, with seven protesters—including one who glued herself to the ground—being arrested for demonstrating outside the zoo. Critics argue that the zoo’s long-standing breeding policies are to blame for the overcrowding and subsequent culling. Christoph Maisack from the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law emphasized that breeding issues do not justify the killing of healthy animals.
Zoo officials stated that the culling was a last resort and in compliance with European animal welfare standards, while underlining the challenges of finding alternative housing for the baboons. Animal rights organizations have since filed complaints against the zoo, condemning the act as avoidable and illegal, alleging a history of irresponsible breeding practices. The controversy echoes past incidents in Europe, where zoos have faced backlash for culling healthy animals for similar reasons.
Activists reacted strongly to the zoo's decision, with seven protesters—including one who glued herself to the ground—being arrested for demonstrating outside the zoo. Critics argue that the zoo’s long-standing breeding policies are to blame for the overcrowding and subsequent culling. Christoph Maisack from the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law emphasized that breeding issues do not justify the killing of healthy animals.
Zoo officials stated that the culling was a last resort and in compliance with European animal welfare standards, while underlining the challenges of finding alternative housing for the baboons. Animal rights organizations have since filed complaints against the zoo, condemning the act as avoidable and illegal, alleging a history of irresponsible breeding practices. The controversy echoes past incidents in Europe, where zoos have faced backlash for culling healthy animals for similar reasons.
