Zoo supporter community denounces deadly attacks against primate dental center staff - Zoo associates denounce death threats surrounding Pavian killings
The Nuremberg Zoo in Germany has found itself at the centre of a heated debate after it euthanized 12 healthy Guinea baboons in July 2025, citing overcrowding and lack of space. This practice, known as "zoothanasia," has been a subject of controversy in Europe, with animal rights groups filing criminal complaints against the zoo, claiming the culling was illegal under German animal protection laws.
The decision to euthanize the baboons was made after years of consideration and with a lack of viable alternatives, aligning with guidelines from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). However, the zoo's action has sparked outrage among animal rights activists, who argue that such euthanasia of healthy animals is unethical and illegal.
The issue of euthanizing healthy animals in zoos due to space limitations is a complex one, with zoo authorities claiming necessity for maintaining stable populations and animal rights advocates demanding changes to avoid culling healthy animals. The Nuremberg Zoo has not announced new policies preventing future culling, highlighting ongoing legal and ethical tensions around this practice.
The Zoo Friends Association, a support group for the Nuremberg Zoo based in Nuremberg, Germany, has condemned the harassment and death threats directed at those involved in the euthanization of the baboons. In a statement, the association expressed a desire for a respectful and constructive discussion about this ethical dilemma.
The association finds the killing of healthy animals to cause incomprehension and strong emotions. However, they stand united behind the decisions made by the zoo management, stating that threatening people with death in the name of supposedly protecting animals is not befitting of society.
The opinions spread on social networks about the baboon euthanization at the Nuremberg Zoo distort facts and are contemptuous of humanity, according to the Zoo Friends Association. They wish for an open dialogue and understanding for differing opinions regarding this issue, hoping to foster a more informed and empathetic discourse about animal welfare and zoo management.
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