As of: February 9, 2024, 3:26 p.m
By: Manuel Rank
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A baboon jumps onto a tree trunk in its enclosure in the Nuremberg Zoo.
The Nuremberg Zoo wants to kill individual animals from its group of 45 in the future in order to be able to better manage the population.
© picture alliance/dpa |
Daniel Karmann
Are zoos allowed to kill healthy animals?
The Nuremberg Zoo now wants to introduce what is already practice for some species for baboons - and argues with species protection.
Animal rights activists protest.
Nuremberg – Baboon monkeys are to be killed in the Nuremberg Zoo.
Those responsible for the zoo argue with species protection.
For reasons of population management, the Nuremberg Zoo announced on Thursday (February 8th) that they wanted to kill individual animals in the baboon group.
It is still unclear how many animals will be affected.
There is criticism from animal protection and rights organizations such as Peta.
In a statement published on Friday (February 9), Peta accused the zoo of deceiving the public with supposed species protection arguments - and threatened to file a criminal complaint.
Full monkey house – there is little space for baboons in the Nuremberg Zoo
According to the zoo, the problem is that the group of 45 Guinea baboons is too large and their social structure is unfavorable.
The facility is only designed for 25 animals, so there is not enough space.
As a result, not every animal can stay in the group.
Expanding the holding capacity would only solve the problem for a short time, the statement said.
According to information, around one in five of Europe's 220 Guinea baboons lives in the Nuremberg Zoo.
The problem is also a result of the success of zoos.
Until the 1980s, the reproduction of zoo animals, especially species that were difficult to keep, could by no means be guaranteed.
In the years that followed, it was increasingly possible to adapt the keeping conditions so that the animals had offspring.
There are now more individual animals again - but not necessarily the right ones in terms of species conservation.
Nuremberg Zoo: “Animal Welfare Commission has examined all options”
According to director Dag Encke, the zoo in Nuremberg has already tried many things to steer the subpopulation in the right direction when it comes to baboons: five animals were sent to Paris and eleven more to China.
15 specimens that were also supposed to go to China remained in Nuremberg because the “keeping conditions were inadequate”.
Attempts to keep the group structure and size stable by temporarily preventing around 20 females and at the same time reduce the group growth rate did not have the desired effect, it said.
The reason: The females remained permanently infertile and no longer became pregnant - with long-term consequences for the social structure and genetic diversity.
After numerous consultations: Killing baboons can be a “sensible solution”.
According to the Nuremberg Zoo, releasing them into the wild is out of the question.
In the areas of origin there are no suitable areas where baboons could be settled and where they could live safely.
The statement goes on to say that after “numerous consultations, including with external experts,” the zoo’s animal welfare commission came to the conclusion that “killing Guinea baboons can also be a reasonable solution.”
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The Nuremberg Zoo's decision is controversial.
Animal protection organizations protest.
© picture alliance/dpa |
Daniel Karmann
(Our Nuremberg newsletter informs you about all developments, news and stories
from the Franconian metropolis.)
Nuremberg Zoo wants to initiate discussion about species protection – legal gray area
“In species conservation, we find ourselves in a man-made dilemma that requires us all to make decisions that don’t feel good,” said Encke, head of the Nuremberg Zoo.
“We still have a responsibility.
It is a commandment of reason that we accept them.”
Killing of ungulates such as sheep, cattle or goats, birds or kangaroos is already practiced for population management.
“Where we believe there is a social consensus.”
Now the zoo wants to initiate a discussion in order to socially implement the measure, which makes sense from the point of view of species protection, also for primates.
The plans put the zoo in a legal gray area.
“We will be reported with 100 percent certainty,” says Encke.
Whether the plan turns out to be a crime can only be known afterwards - a dilemma.
According to the Animal Welfare Act, a “reasonable reason” is required for killing.
Whether this is the case is a matter of opinion.
Protest comes from animal protection organizations – “self-created vicious circle”
The German Animal Welfare Association immediately criticized the zoo's plan.
“We clearly reject a license to kill as part of population management,” it said in a statement.
Zoos have a responsibility towards every single individual in their care, which they must live up to.
“If that is not possible, the species must not be kept.”
Peta also protested - and threatened the Nuremberg Zoo with criminal charges if the announcement was carried out and healthy baboon monkeys were killed.
The animal rights organization announced on Friday that the zoo audience was being deceived with supposed species protection arguments.
And further: “The argument that the breeding of additional animals is necessary for the social structure is also pure double standards.”
PETA threatens to file criminal charges
Breeding and killing animals is a “vicious circle” created by zoos.
“This can only be broken if plans are drawn up to stop breeding and close zoos, instead of discussing the possible killing of animals - no matter what species it concerns,” said PETA biologist Yvonne Würz.
Animal killing cannot be justified by a forced situation that one has previously brought about.
As zoo boss Encke predicted, Peta says it is now considering a criminal complaint against the zoo.
In the event of baboon killings, the animal protection organization will file criminal charges against those responsible at the Nuremberg Zoo.
(with information from dpa)
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