Zoo sparks fury by FEEDING one of its giraffes to a lion after the animal died in Czech Republic
- WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Zoo posted image of lion eating animal’s corpse
- The post also said that its elderly 19-year-old Rothschild giraffe put down
- It added that meat from the animal was fed to the other animals at the zoo
- Post attracted criticism with some distressed viewers saying photo was sad
A zoo that fed one of its beloved giraffes to a pack of carnivorous animals after it died has defended itself by saying ‘it would happen in nature’.
Ostrava zoo in the Czech Republic was flooded with complaints after posting a picture on social media of a lion devouring an animal’s corpse alongside the news that its elderly, 19-year-old Rothschild giraffe had been put down.
Zoo spokeswoman Šárka Nováková said: ‘The giraffe first fell down, was breathing heavily and did not get up again.
‘Everything pointed to heart failure. Due to the general condition, hypoxia, age and stress of the animal, we proceeded to euthanize it.’
Writing on Facebook, the zoo added: ‘Meat from more than 300kg animal was used as food for domestic animals and other carnivores, as it would happen in nature.’
Ostrava zoo in the Czech Republic was flooded with complaints after posting a picture on social media of a lion devouring an animal’s corpse alongside the news that its elderly, 19-year-old Rothschild giraffe had been put down
The post quickly attracted criticism with one distressed viewer saying: ‘Very sad … even if it’s the law of nature, the photo is out of place… ‘
Another wrote: ‘I do not consider the photo choice the happiest. Maybe some nice snapshot of the same giraffe happily walking around the zoo?
‘When we inform about the death of a person, we will give a nice photo while he is alive, not how worms come out of his eyes…. because it is also natural, right?’
In response the zoo said; ‘The giraffe was already old, it was nineteen years old. In nature, the age of giraffes can be close to twenty years.
‘In human care, the age of life is usually higher, animals often exceed twenty years. The giraffe was healthy, until after the collapse it was found that it had a weaker heart.
‘She was shot and then fed.’
It added: ‘We currently have two young giraffes – one male and one female, breeding will certainly continue and expand.’
Now internet fans of the zoo have rallied around calling the feeding ‘normal’.
One said: ‘This is life, what do you think a lion does for a living?’
Another wrote: ’The giraffe lived a good life, even in captivity. It’s good that meat was put to use.’
Writing on Facebook, the zoo added: ‘Meat from more than 300kg animal, pictured, was used as food for domestic animals and other carnivores, as it would happen in nature’
Yet another commented: ‘The right decision, at least it was used. I just think it would be better to take a picture of a Lion without a piece of a giraffe. people read the comments, not everyone needs to see it.’
Meanwhile, another said: ‘Great that the zoo can show the public the reality. There’s nothing to be ashamed of!
‘Unfortunately Disney is usually leading in public so people lose concept of reality….’.
Rothschild’s giraffes normally live to 10 to 15 years, in captivity about 25 years.
The second most endangered giraffe subspecies, only a few hundred are now found in the wild in Kenya and Uganda.
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