Campaign for giraffe facing death at Copenhagen zoo Update:'Surplus' giraffe put down at Copenhagen

[Are_grits_groceries]

Last edited Sun Feb 9, 2014, 05:23 AM - Edit history (1)

Thousands of people have signed online petitions appealing for a change of heart over the 18-month-old called Marius, who is due to be put down on Sunday.

The zoo says it has no choice because of European rules to avoid in-breeding.

Now Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) near Doncaster has contacted Copenhagen Zoo after learning of Marius's plight.

It has a state-of-the-art giraffe house with a herd of four male giraffes - one of which came from Copenhagen Zoo in 2012 - and the capacity to take an extra male, the park told the BBC.

"We have tried to contact Copenhagen to confirm if they are looking to rehome their young giraffe, as this could be a solution that provides a positive outcome for everyone - including Marius," said John Minion, joint managing director of the park.

A zoo in Sweden - which unlike the YWP is not affiliated to the European Association of Zoos and Animals (EAZA) which oversees the breeding programme - has also reportedly offered to take in Marius.
<snip>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26098935

If they kill this giraffe instead of letting another zoo take him, they don't deserve a zoo at all!

In addition, that idiot wondering what all the fuss is about because 800 deer are killed every year needs to be replaced. After reading this, I have serious questions about how all of the animals are treated.

Edit to add: 'Surplus' giraffe put down at Copenhagen Zoo

[complain jane]

1. I hope this has a happy ending for Marius

And btw I could watch the gifs in your signature line for hours!

[tblue]

2. Where's the petition?

I'll sign it. Oh please don't let them kill that baby! Giraffes are awesome. I went to Kenya years ago, and giraffes were my favorite animals there. They have huge eyes and lashes, and sweet innocent faces. I remember some giraffes standing on the side of the highway watching cars go by, and the look on their faces was like they'd never seen a car before. They just stared. So cute and innocent! And when I saw giraffes running, I knew I was looking at something majestic that I may never be fortunate never see that again. I hope they don't kill Baby Marius. How could they?

[defacto7]

3. I'm afraid it's already happened.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26098935#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

[LeftyMom]

4. Zoos kill a lot of "surplus" male animals once they aren't cute babies.

Babies draw in tourists and adult females make babies, but adult male animals tend to be a pain in the ass to keep in captivity, so they keep the minimum number they can get away with.

Quite a few of them quietly sell the hides, etc as well.

[Lordquinton]

5. Breeding is a sad, dirty buisness

but in some respects necessary to keep things going. People don't know what actually goes on in the background, and how much pressure breeders are under from all aspects, no one wants to see the animals come to harm, but no one wants to front the bill either.

[Tanuki]

6. Very sad. If they were concerned about inbreeding, couldn't they have just given

him a vasectomy? It sounded as if there were multiple other zoos and animal parks who were willing to give him a home. This is going to have bad public relations repercussions for this zoo. Who would want to go there now?

[2pooped2pop]

9. that sounds reasonable

I know zoos have very strict rules on animals they can take and where they can go. The males fight and have to be kept separated so that is also part of the problem. Still it seems that if they had given it a little more time, this one could have found a home.

[Tanuki]

7. WTF?! They "shot him with a bolt gun" and are going to feed him to the lions! Sick S.O.Bs

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2555079/Danish-zoo-kills-young-giraffe-deemed-surplus-feeds-lions.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

[a la izquierda]

8. Oh my god, so sad.

I hate zoos.

[avebury]

10. I don't know why on earth they could not

send him to another zoo. This sucks beyond belief.

[FarCenter]

11. Giraffe? It's the height of fine dining, says Hugh

When most people look at a giraffe they marvel at its extraordinary height and beauty.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on the other hand pictures a mouth-watering steak.

The TV cook found himself in hot water with conservationists yesterday after he admitted being partial to giraffe meat.

The 40-year-old, known for cooking squirrel, even goes as far as recommending the meat and said he would not rule out eating it again.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1121222/Giraffe-Its-height-fine-dining-says-TV-chef-Hugh.html

Giraffe is kosher, rabbis rule in Israel

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/2084281/Giraffe-is-kosher-Israeli-vets-have-ruled.html

[liberal_at_heart]

12. Well considering there were other zoos willing to take him, I wouldn't assume that all the zoos

are like this. There were obviously zoos who cared enough to offer to take him. This is horrifying. This zoo should be shut down.