How do you feel about the Copenhagen Zoo spectator slaughtering of Marius?

1. 79

   bethperryposted 10 years ago

   How do you feel about the Copenhagen Zoo spectator slaughtering of Marius?
   
   The Copenhagen Zoo has euthanized Marius, a perfectly healthy male giraffe, citing that he did not fit in with the gene pool they wanted for their giraffe population. After destroying Marius, the zoo officials dissected his body in -and in front of children- then proceeded to feed his remains to lions. How would you categorize the zoo's actions: necessary, cold-hearted, inhumane, barbaric or something else?
   
   

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2. 70

   Organised Kaosposted 10 years ago

   Damn disgraceful! It's meant to be an animal haven!
   
   Fair enough they needed to avoid in-breeding, but a private zoo offered to take him as well as another zoo in the UK
   
   Was a bad, wrong move and whomever authorized and enacted willingly, should be brought to account!

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      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Organised Kaos, thank you. I find it very difficult to think of them as a haven now. If it was a matter of avoiding inbreeding, they could have just neutered him.

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      Efficient Adminposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      A private zoo offered to take Marius, and so did another zoo in the UK? I am thinking there is a special place in Hades for whoever made and carried out this decision. Barbaric.  Cold-hearted.

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   3. 61

      katwoman55posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I do not agree with the choices that the zoo made~and what is done is done. All anyone can do now is make the future of other animals safer, so this never happens again. Thanks.

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3. 85

   raymondphilippeposted 10 years ago

   My gut feeling is disgust. I can't tell if it was necessary. But I am very glad my kids didn't have to watch this.
   I am not sure i would want to fit in with the gene pool of the Copenhagen Zoo management. ;-)
   But as said before. It's my feeling speeking here. Haven't given the rational much thought.

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      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for sharing, raymondphilippe.

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      Efficient Adminposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well said raymondphilippe, these people must be cold hearted and/or barbaric -- a zoo is supposed to be a safe haven for animals even if they are sick. Didn't fit into the gene pool? That's ridiculous.

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4. 75

   janiek13posted 10 years ago

   I think it was barbaric and not necessary. I believe that the Copenhagen Zoo should be shut down and their animals transferred to more humane zoos. If I had my way, the people that decided that Marius was "surplus" would be considered "surplus" humans and treated accordingly.

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      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, janiek13

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   2. 86

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder how many people find this absolutely repulsive but eat meat?  How many find this so disturbing, but adamantly support human babies being killed by being ripped apart in their mother's womb or stabbed through neck at birth?

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5. 0

   savvydatingposted 10 years ago

   And they felt compelled to dissect him and feed him to lions, in front of everyone, because why??  Maybe that's how things are done in zoos, but it sounds horrible. The poor thing was healthy, for crying out loud. Well, this is my emotional reaction, but I can't help but feel sadness.

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      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Me too, savvydating. Thanks for sharing.

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6. 82

   junksellerposted 10 years ago

   Many people I think don't really want to see the reality of the world. They want to go to zoos, take cute pictures, eat their cotton candy, and go home to their cozy homes. They don't want to see behind the scenes. They don't want to see that euthanasia is a component of many such animal operations.
   
   People want to go to grocery stores and buy their cellophane wrapped pork loins and act like it just magically appeared there. They don't want to see the actual horrible slaughter that was required to make it happen.
   
   People want to chirp away on their computers and not think at all about the environmental degradation (and necessary accompanying death of life) that results from acquiring resources and producing energy so that they can do so.
   
   People like fake plastic cute crap. Give them a peek behind the curtain however and they lose their minds. That isn't an indictment of the people behind the curtain, it is an indictment of us, who happily go about life pretending the curtain isn't there.
   
   Also let's not forget that many zoos exist partly, or wholly, to maintain animal populations because we, the general population, are unable to do so ourselves. For people to complain about how the professionals do that job for us, when we couldn't do it ourselves, seems pretty hypocritical to me.

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   1. 79

      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      junkseller, you do make a valid point. But most people wouldn't euthanize their dog in order to control the dog population when they could just as easily have it neutered.

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   2. 86

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, but wouldn't the purpose of a Zoo to be mostly educational, to teach ppl about animals they wouldn't otherwise see or know about? showing the anatomy of a giraffe or how lions actually get the meat off the carcass would be educational

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   3. 82

      junksellerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      bethperry, people might not, but shelters do all the time (estimated to be in the millions per year). It's a terrible reality organizations who manage animals often face.
      
      m.h., education, absolutely, which is intertwined with conservation.

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      Ranziposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Perfectly expressed. People call themselves animal lovers yet turn a blind eye on cruelty that goes on behind factory farming. Perhaps the truth will spoil their dinners.All living creatures r equal they feel pain, joy, sadness, loneliness, pleasure

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7. 95

   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   I found this shocking as well. I happened to see the story on CNN today. They interviewed the head of the zoo and explained why they did what they did. Brace yourself. First of all, they didn't euthanize the poor giraffe with a needle. They shot him in the back of the head. Oh, but first they gave him something to eat to distract him so he wouldn't know what was happening. They called this humane. But wait. It gets worse. The reason the shot him in the head was to preserve the meat to feed the lions. The chemicals in the needle would render the meat no good. The reason to serve the meat to the lions is that it's the most expedient way to get rid of the giraffe carcus which is too large for the space and too much work to discard. He also stated that they invited the children and parents to witness the event (minus the shot in the head) for educational purposes. Really? Ugh.

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   1. 79

      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      janshares, just what the world needs, huh? Children being educated in the art of callousness. Thanks for sharing!

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   2. 86

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Do you eat meat? Cows and pigs are shot through the head everyday so that we can eat their meat.  Giraffes in nature die at the jaws of lions. We must recognize that our disgust stems from our being so far removed from the process in our own lives.

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   3. 95

      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Point well-taken, modern housewife. After reading Melissa A Smith's hub, I see the bigger picture.

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   4. 79

      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      modern housewife, this is true. But I think making a spectacle out of it is part of what bothers ppl. I was taught to honor the animal we take as meat, but not use the killing as an arena event.

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   5. 86

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Bethperry, Good point!  Killing/dissection for entertainment us not okay. But what about for educational purposes?  Could the case be made that the intent was educational in nature? Not unlike a biology class dissecting a cat, which mine did?

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   6. 79

      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      modern housewife, yes, I'm sure that case could be made. If this is the case, what a contradiction of educational purposes in their decision to use a healthy giraffe. In the wild, lions tend to pick off the weakest and sickliest.

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8. 62

   old albionposted 10 years ago

   Disgraceful all round. Someone has already made my point. A Zoo here in Britain offered a home to no avail. Perhaps it was a quick and easy way to provide cheap 'fresh' meat for the Lions.
   A very sad reflection on life as it really is.
   Graham.

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      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, old albion. I think you may be right on target with that theory.

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9. 60

   jamieedwards1posted 10 years ago

   I would agree. Not only have they slaughtered an amazing animal, but they chose to do so in front of school children? Complete madness! Could have just given the giraffe to another zoo!

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   1. 79

      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes indeed.

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10. 83

    Melissa A Smithposted 10 years ago

    I just created a hub on the subject. I have no problem with euthanizing an animal if no suitable home can be found for it, but it's clear that good candidates were available, and offers were refused for trivial reasons that I go into more detail with in my article. The zoo claims to be conservation minded, but the reality is that most of the animals in the collection are not valuable for future introduction programs. The giraffes in question are not even endangered at all, begging the question of why they're there in the first place if the zoo claims to only propagate the animal for essential breeding programs.
    There is nothing horrendous about killing a giraffe with the described method, as the same occurs with the millions of animals we use for food each day. I just feel the giraffe could have been more valuable to us alive.

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       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Melissa, great Hub.

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       Melissa A Smithposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks

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11. 86

    modern housewifeposted 10 years ago

    Well, my answer may seem cruel, but....
    While I am sad for the loss of life, I actually don't have a problem with this.  Animals are killed everyday for food, or euthanized to be used as teaching tools. 
    
    Up until the 1900s most families raised animals or hunted animals for the food they would provide.  The were not brutal, hard hearted people.  They valued the life of the animal, killed only out of need, and were thankful for the animal's life and for the nourishment it would provide through its death.  Children were taught how to hunt, and how to process the animal after its death, first by watching the process, and then as they grew, by helping.  They were not shielded from death.  It was a natural part of life.   
     
    Since the 1900's we have become increasingly removed from and uncomfortable with from the natural cycle of life and death.  Today, we eat more meat than ever before, but we are completely removed from the process.  We buy already processed meat from the store and then complain about people who hunt or slaughter animals for food. We feed out children hambugers and pork chops, but are afraid they can't handle knowing where it really comes from.  We killed thousands of chickens, cows and pigs every day for consumption, but become distraught at the thought of a giraffe being euthanized, and its body being used as a teaching tool and to feed other animals.  We are completely comfortable giving caged lions meat, but are distraught at the thought of them eating the meat off an already dead animal. 
    
    I include myself in the description of society above.  I have never killed an animal, other than an insect, and I don't really want to watch it happen.  I hate the idea of animals in the wild hunting and eating each other.  I am uncomfortable with death.  But I recognize where these feelings come from and that I must accept death as a natural part of life. I try to be mindful that the meat I eat came from an animal who gave its life to nourish my family. 
    
    As a Christian, I believe that all life should be respected, but I also believe that God has permitted the killing of animals for food and other uses. We shouldn't take any life for granted, but this cycle is part of the natural world in which we live.

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    1. 83

       Melissa A Smithposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       It's rather unfair that your comment got voted down.

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       cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I agree that your comment, although offensive to some, shows a lot of thought  and truth.  If people had to kill what they eat, it would change quite a few mind-sets. Respect for life is key, even when hunting, as we are designed to be predators..

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    3. 86

       modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks guys! I Appreciate that!

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    4. 79

       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       There is a difference between personally killing the animal you are to eat, and butchery for the sake of butchery. No predators other than humans kill for the pure spectacle of it.

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    5. 95

       cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I would never condone senseless slaughter of ANYTHING!  Anyone who kills for spectacle is evil & w/o conscious. Marius comes down to  animal-type eugenics: purely& simply wrong!!

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    6. 86

       modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Giraffes are a natural food source for lions. It was killed and used to feed lions their natural diet. I don't really see the difference between killing a giraffe or a cow to feed the lions.

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    7. 95

       cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Killing Marius because he didn't suit the gene pool any longer was wrong. Feeding him to the lions was not; however, it shouldn't have been done as a public spectacle.

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    8. 79

       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, cat on a soapbox, well said.

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12. 0

    dragonflycolorposted 10 years ago

    I'm upset and disgusted by the parents who allowed their children to view this act.  Is it a wonder why some children grow up to be criminals?  It is a disgusting act to mutilate this baby in front of everyone and call it educational.  To a biologist it might have been educational, but a child, it was traumatizing.  The zoo should be penalized for their careless and inconsiderate act.

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    1. 79

       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, dragonflycolor.

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13. 90

    Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years ago

    The hero who saved the Columbus Zoo spoke out on local Columbus news radio about Marius the Giraffe. read more

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14. 81

    JayeWisdomposted 10 years ago

    I don't believe it was "necessary" because if they didn't want to keep the giraffe they could have given him to another zoo or a sanctuary for former zoo animals. I've read news accounts about this horrendous, monstrous action, and zoo staff have received death threats because of it.  People around the world who care about animals consider this killing an atrocity and do not accept the zoo officials' rationale for their actions.
    
    While I find the decision by the zoo's staff to slaughter Marius abhorent, inhumane, cruel and barbaric, I find it equally difficult to conceive of parents who would allow their children to witness such an atrocity--the killing, dismemberment and feeding of this beautiful animal to the lions. The vet's excuse that it was done with witnesses "...for educational purposes" is insane. What is educational about murder?
    
    In disgust,
    Jaye

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    1. 79

       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       JayeWisdom, I think some use the "educational" angle to excuse their general lack of of empathy for animals. The same excuse was used in other times to excuse sadistic practices and spectator events.

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15. 80

    SpaceShantyposted 10 years ago

    A rather poorly thought out Publicity stunt?

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16. 80

    Alphadogg16posted 10 years ago

    Wow..... I hadn't seen this story, I can't believe that this actually took place. I would think there would be some kind of laws in place even though the giraffe is not an endangered species. Really a shame.

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    1. 79

       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Definitely!

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17. 78

    FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

    I thought it was awful. Especially since several other zoos had apparently offered to take Marius off of their hands if Copenhagen didn't have a place for him, so euthanizing him was completely unnecessary.
    It's also rather bizarre that they would cut him up and feed him to the lions in front of a group of school children. What was the point of that "lesson?" I bet some of those kids will be telling their therapist about that for years to come.

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    1. 79

       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Well said, FatFreddysCat.

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18. 48

    erorantesposted 10 years ago

    It  is sad. It is better to release him to the wildlife were they supposed to be. It is savage what they did. Sooner or later carma comes around. God forgive them. They did not know what they were doing.

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19. 95

    cat on a soapboxposted 10 years ago

    This story makes me so sad! This perfectly healthy young giraffe should have been sent to another zoo. Since he was raised in captivity, releasing him into the wild was not a viable option. I disapprove of eugenics on any level. Shame on these people.

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       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, cat on a soapbox!

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20. 58

    definitionsposted 10 years ago

    I wish Marius could dissect the spectators and his killers instead.

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       Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks. Many people are very angry about this.

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21. 0

    Lybrahposted 10 years ago

    Poor giraffe!  He did not deserve that.  Although it probably made a good science lesson for the children.

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22. 89

    Theophanesposted 10 years ago

    Just makes me wonder who had it out to get this giraffe? NORMALLY a zoo with an excess animal like a giraffe will sell said animal to another zoo that needs it - and they can make a lot of cash in the process - so whhhy this giraffe was publicly euthanized is beyond me. He must have seriously pissed someone off.

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       Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       On 2-14-2014, it was announced on radio that the next smaller giraffe in the group is to be killed and fed to the lions soon because he is taking up space..

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23. 78

    Ranziposted 10 years ago

    Marius - this adorable creature with harmless eyes has caused much public outrage everywhere. More than 27,000 signatures ended up on a petition in order to save him just prior to his death. The mistreatment. The cruelty. To imagine that a healthy... read more

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24. 78

    Ranziposted 10 years ago

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25. 67

    Alastar Packerposted 10 years ago

    I've had first hand knowledge of the Danish people as friends, and a good dose of their culture as well. In my opinion they are amongst the brightest and friendliest  people in the world. This unfortunate action with Marius the boy giraffe bodes bad for the world. However, the majority response from around the planet might seem to offer some hope that this was not the right way after all - and a lesson is learned.

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       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Alastar, very true about the Danes & culture. I don't think this incident is a reflection on the Danes in general, at least it shouldn't be taken as such. You're also right about the worldwide response.

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26. 51

    tbHistorianposted 10 years ago

    
    
    I consider this a normal process within the circle of life.  Many cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, buffalo, deer, moose, snakes, dogs, etc. are killed daily to support consumption desires of humans. 
    Therefore, unless the people who choose to declare these slaughters inhumane, barbaric, etc. the zoo action should be considered within the boundaries of them.

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    1. 86

       modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Exactly!

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       Ranziposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Great point..

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27. 78

    Ranziposted 10 years ago

    People call themselves animal lovers yet turn a blind eye on cruelty that goes on behind factory farming.  Perhaps the truth will spoil their dinners. Selective animals loving and speciesism proves how messed up society really is.
    Just because it's a cute Giraffe doesn't make it anymore special than other living creatures. All living creatures are equal - they feel pain, joy, sadness, loneliness, boredom pleasure. Many have tears streaming down their faces as they are slit and killed.
    
    Perhaps next time when we are outraged by a giraffe being quickly shot, we should think about the holocaust that is happening to animals right now. Think about how billions of pigs worldwide are forced into a tiny body fit cage for one whole year (they cant even turn sideways) or how baby calves are stolen from their mothers and tortured so they can stay tender for our dinner, or about the foxes that get skinned alive.
    
    Yes I'm may sound like a loony extremist - but rape, slavery and pedophilia seemed okay not long ago until people spoke out

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28. 67

    brutishspoonposted 10 years ago

    It is disgusting that a Zoo that is supposed to help save animal species would do something like this. An animal that is healthy should be allowed to live out its natural life. If he did not fit into their breading program could he have fitted in at another zoo. Did they even check that option out?

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       Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       News reports were that the officials of Copenhagen Zoo said giving or selling Marius elsewhere was against laws/regulations. That is completely different from rules in America and Australia.

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29. 60

    jarcade92posted 10 years ago

    i know it was intended as an educational thing for kids but i think it was a horrible thing too do, id like too think our zoo would bury our giraffe out of respect and not feed it to the lions like in the wild because zoo animals arent in the wild and are different if you know what i mean

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       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Absolutely!

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30. 39

    thomasczechposted 10 years ago

    This was a despicable act. There was absolutely no reason for this animal to be killed, they could have sent it to a nature reserve or a zoo somewhere else.

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31. 0

    swilliamsposted 10 years ago

    What a disturbing image. I believe we were put on this earth to protect animals. To see such a beautiful creature being mistreated paints a sad reflection on behalf of mankind.

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32. 0

    Bronwyn Hansenposted 10 years ago

    This disgraceful event made the evening news here in Australia. It also made me ashamed of my Danish heritage. How anyone could do this to such a healthy animal is beyond me.
    If I posted what I would like to do to the zoologists responsible, I would be banned from HP for life.

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33. 47

    debbyhposted 10 years ago

    While the Copenhagen Zoo might had considered this to be a necessary measure, better options could had been considered for this healthy 18 month giraffe. According to USA Today News, " no other accredited zoo in Europe could take him in" (Lee). However, the possibility of other solutions such as separating this male giraffe from female giraffes should had been considered. In addition, perhaps exchanging with another  zoo in other countries could had been a good investment for both sides, and a better solution to the problem. In any case, if NO zoo was willing to negotiate, then why not bring it back to its original wild life? a zoo should not take in more animals than it can care for. "Care for" is that NOT what a zoo is supposed to be? A place were animals are Safe and are "cared for" by professionals? Which leads to my next point, publicly humiliating and disrespecting the corpse was unprofessional. 
    
    The "scene" made by the zoo with the giraffe's body is disgraceful. Dissecting and feeding the body  to another animal in public for the purpose of "show" (not even science) was cruel and unnecessary. Sure, the cycle of life in the animal kingdom is naturally barbaric to look at, However, being done by a human being WITHOUT the use of the normal cycle of life was simply cold and unusual.

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       bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Excellent observations, debbyh!

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34. 59

    Penny Gposted 10 years ago

    Oh my gosh, horrid. They could have given him to another zoo, who did not feel this way. I am shocked! Sad!

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