Aalborg Zoo

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Aalborg Zoo
AalborgZooLogo.svg
Aalborg zoo entrance.jpg
Zoo Entrance
Aalborg Zoo
57°02′12″N9°53′54″E / 57.0368°N 9.8982°E / 57.0368; 9.8982
Date openedApril 1935 [1]
Location Aalborg, Denmark
Land area8 ha (20 acres)
No. of animals1,500+ (December 2011) [2]
No. of species126 (December 2011) [2]
Annual visitors375,000
Memberships EAZA, [3] WAZA [4]
Website aalborgzoo.dk

Aalborg Zoo is a zoo located near the center of Aalborg in Denmark. Every year, Aalborg Zoo is visited by around 375,000 guests. The zoo covers 8 hectares (20 acres), and keeps more than 1,500 animals belonging to 126 species. [2]

Contents

The statue Det gode kup appears at the entrance to Aalborg zoo. Aalborg Zoo - Det gode kup - 3.JPG
The statue Det gode kup appears at the entrance to Aalborg zoo.

At the entrance, one can see the sculpture Det gode kup ("the good bargain") from 1925, made by artist C.J. Bonnesen. The sculpture was donated to Aalborg Zoo from the Urban brewery.

History

The zoo was opened in April 1935. Throughout the recent decades, Aalborg Zoo has put more emphasis on viability and conservation of nature, and today it plays a major role in various global projects on animal conservation, breeding, education, research and focus on fair trade. [1]

Conservation

Aalborg Zoo participates in many international breeding programmes in order to preserve endangered animals. Aalborg Zoo got an environment certificate and the first zoological garden, and the overall purpose of the zoo is to preserve nature. Aalborg Zoo has made their mark in many ways with projects on conservation of nature and environment. [5] For example, Aalborg Zoo supports the Payamino Indians' efforts to preserve 60,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of endangered rainforest in Ecuador. [6]

To simulate the natural food chain for predators, the zoo accepts donations of small animals, such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens, which the zoo euthanizes then provides to the predator animals as fodder. [7] [8] [9] In July 2025, this brought on controversy, after they posted a reminder of this, offering tax deductions. [10] [11] Opponents have criticised it as unethical, as the zoo could use regular store-bought meat instead. [12] [13] Supporters have approved of it, citing expert statement that it is healthier for the predators being fed, and calling it a moral alternative to regular euthanasia (which would dispose of the body afterwards). [14] [15] [16]

References

  1. 1 2 "About the Zoo". aalborg-zoo.dk. Aalborg Zoo. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Aalborg Zoo (2011). Årsberetninger , p. 19. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  3. ↑ "EAZA Member Zoos & Aquariums". eaza.net. EAZA . Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Zoos and Aquariums of the World". waza.org. WAZA . Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Aalborg Zoo to test EcoTruck". denmark.dk. Government of Denmark. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Aalborg Zoo". danishnet.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Denmark zoo asks people to donate their small pets as food for captive predators". AP News. August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Denmark zoo asks public to donate unwanted small pets or horses to feed captive predators - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Donation of animals for feed". Aalborg Zoo. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Aalborg Zoo asks for unwanted pets to feed its predators". www.bbc.com. August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Did you know that you can donate smaller pets to Aalborg Zoo?". Aalborg Zoo. Facebook.
  12. ↑ Wise, Alana (August 6, 2025). "A zoo in Denmark asked patrons to donate their pets. Not as attractions, but for food". NPR. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  13. ↑ Oliver, Sara (August 6, 2025). "Aalborg Zoo Wants Companion Animals—Learn Why". PETA. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ Kassam, Ashifa (August 9, 2025). "'Bizarre and wrong': Danish zoo sparks debate with plea for pets to use as food". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Zoo calls for unwanted pets to feed its animals". NBC News. August 6, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ Ynetnews (August 19, 2025). "Danish woman donates daughter's pony to zoo to be fed to predators". Ynetnews. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
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