The Nuremberg Tiergarten zoo has come under fire after the culling of twelve healthy Guinea baboons, carried out due to severe overcrowding in their enclosure. Following this controversial decision, which resulted in the baboons being fed to predators, seven animal rights activists were arrested during a protest at the zoo's entrance, with one demonstrator gluing her hands to the ground.
The zoo reported that overcrowding led to heightened aggression among the baboons, and efforts to rehouse them or implement contraceptive measures were unsuccessful. Christoph Maisack, from the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law, criticized the zoo for its breeding practices, saying that allowing the animals to breed uncontrollably should not justify their killing.
Plans to cull the baboons were announced by the zoo last year when the baboon population exceeded 40— surpassing the 25 that the current facility could adequately house, which was constructed in 2009. Attempts to send the animals to other zoos failed as those facilities also experienced capacity issues.
The zoo closed its gates on Tuesday morning for “operational reasons,” leading demonstrators to climb the fences to voice their dissent. Zoo officials later confirmed that they had proceeded with the culling under the premise that none of the culled baboons were pregnant or part of scientific research. Zoo Director Dag Encke stated that the decision was made after "years of consideration," and emphasized that culling could be seen as a "legitimate last resort" when it comes to population management.
Animal rights organizations reacted strongly, filing a criminal complaint against the zoo for euthanizing the baboons. Pro Wildlife's spokesperson described the events as “avoidable and illegal,” asserting that healthy animals were killed due to the zoo’s poorly managed, reckless breeding policies over the years.
This incident is reminiscent of past controversies involving the culling of healthy animals in zoos elsewhere in Europe, fuelling an ongoing debate about ethical treatment and management of animals in captivity.
The zoo reported that overcrowding led to heightened aggression among the baboons, and efforts to rehouse them or implement contraceptive measures were unsuccessful. Christoph Maisack, from the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law, criticized the zoo for its breeding practices, saying that allowing the animals to breed uncontrollably should not justify their killing.
Plans to cull the baboons were announced by the zoo last year when the baboon population exceeded 40— surpassing the 25 that the current facility could adequately house, which was constructed in 2009. Attempts to send the animals to other zoos failed as those facilities also experienced capacity issues.
The zoo closed its gates on Tuesday morning for “operational reasons,” leading demonstrators to climb the fences to voice their dissent. Zoo officials later confirmed that they had proceeded with the culling under the premise that none of the culled baboons were pregnant or part of scientific research. Zoo Director Dag Encke stated that the decision was made after "years of consideration," and emphasized that culling could be seen as a "legitimate last resort" when it comes to population management.
Animal rights organizations reacted strongly, filing a criminal complaint against the zoo for euthanizing the baboons. Pro Wildlife's spokesperson described the events as “avoidable and illegal,” asserting that healthy animals were killed due to the zoo’s poorly managed, reckless breeding policies over the years.
This incident is reminiscent of past controversies involving the culling of healthy animals in zoos elsewhere in Europe, fuelling an ongoing debate about ethical treatment and management of animals in captivity.
