List of animals culled in zoos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Culling animals in zoos is the process of segregating animals from a group according to desired or undesired characteristics; the process often ends with the segregated animals being killed. Several reasons are given for culling in zoos, including a lack of space, the genes of the culled animals are over-represented in the zoo population, the (young) animal might be attacked or killed, or the culled animals have contracted a disease.[1][2][3] Mark Bekoff, an American biologist and ethologist coined the term "zoothanasia" to describe zoo culling.[4][5]
Because animals in zoos are killed for many reasons, such as old age or disease, just as pet animals are often euthanized because of health problems, it is beyond the scope of this list to identify every case where an animal is killed in a zoo. The list focuses on controversial, unusual or otherwise noteworthy cases where the incident was reported in national or international sources.
The following is a list of animals where their culling and euthanisation in zoos and wildlife (safari) parks has been covered by the general media.
| Country | Zoo | Species
(Common name) |
Species
(Taxonomic name) |
Year | Number | Reason given by zoo | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Maryland Zoo | African elephant | Elephas africana | 2024 | 1 | Elderly animal | [6] |
| United States | National Zoo | Asian elephant | Elephas maximus | 2024 | 1 | Elderly animal | [7] |
| Denmark | Aalborg Zoo | African elephant | Elephas africana | 2024 | 2 | Elderly animals | [8] |
| Scotland | Camperdown Wildlife Centre | Wolf | Canis lupus lupus | 2023 | 4 | Agitation after the death of pack leader | [9] |
| Switzerland | Basel Zoo | Orangutan | Pongo pygmaeus | 2022 | 1 | Zoo did not wish to hand rear infant after mother's death | [10] |
| Taiwan | Taipei Zoo | Giant panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | 2022 | 1 | Suffering multiple seizures brought on by gemistocytic astrocytoma lesions on his brain[11] | [12] |
| Denmark | Copenhagen Zoo | Wolf | Canis lupus lupus | 2020 | 3 | Make space for new animal | [13] |
| Denmark | Copenhagen Zoo | Lion | Panthera leo | 2014 | 4 | Make space for new animal | [14] |
| Denmark | Copenhagen Zoo | Giraffe | Giraffa camelopardalis | 2014 | 1
(Marius) |
Prevent inbreeding | [15] |
| Denmark | Odense Zoo | Lion | Panthera leo | 2014 | 2 | [16] | |
| Germany | Magdeburg Zoo | Siberian tiger | Panthera tigris altaica | 2010 | 3
(cubs) |
Cubs were hybrids[17][better source needed] | [16] |
| England | Woburn Safari Park | Rhesus macaque | Macaca mulatta | 2000 | 215 | Infected with a virus | [18] |
| Switzerland | Bern Zoo | Namibian lion | Panthera leo | 2007 | 2
(cubs) |
Insufficient space | [19] |
| England | Paignton Zoo | Peacock | 2007 | 7 | Complaints from neighbours about noise | [20] | |
| Denmark | Copenhagen Zoo | Leopard | Panthera pardus | 2012 | 2
(cubs) |
Genes were over-represented | [21] |
| Denmark | Copenhagen Zoo | Lion | Panthera leo | 2014 | 4
(including 2 cubs) |
To make space for another male | [22] |
| Australia | Adelaide zoo | Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | 2014 | 1 | Arthritis | [23] |
| Canada | Assiniboine Park Zoo | Polar bear | Ursus maritimus | 2008 | 1 | Multiple organ failure | [24] |
| United States | Central Park Zoo | Polar bear | Ursus maritimus | 2013 | 1 | Inoperable tumour | [25] |
| Spain | Barcelona Zoo | Western lowland gorilla | Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 2003 | 1 | Skin cancer | [26] |
| Netherlands | Dolfinarium Harderwijk | Walrus | Odobenus rosmarus | 2013 | 1 | Shoulder-joint problems | [27] |
| Germany | Leipzig Zoo | Virginia opossum | Didelphis virginiana | 2011 | 1 | Age-related health problems | [28] |
| United States | Wild Adventures Theme Park | Asian elephant | Elephas maximus | 2011 | 1 | Deteriorating health | [29] |
| United States | Oklahoma City Zoo | Sea lion | 2010 | 1 | Lung cancer | [30] | |
| New Zealand | Auckland Zoo | Asian elephant | 2009 | 1 | Arthritis and foot abscess | [31] | |
| Australia | Southern Ash Wildlife Centre | Koala | 2009 | 1 | Urogenital chlamydiosis | [32] | |
| United States | Birmingham Zoo | Western lowland gorilla | Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 2008 | 1 | Heart disease | [33] |
| United States | Santa Barbara Zoo | Rothschild's giraffe | G. c. rothschild | 2008 | 1 | Deteriorating health | [34] |
| United States | Dallas Zoo | Western lowland gorilla | 2008 | 1 | Inoperable tumour | [35] |
Summary quotes
- "...five giraffes have been put down by zoos in Denmark since 2012."[36]
- "Dr Lesley Dickie, executive director of EAZA, [said] that between 3,000 and 5,000 healthy animals are put down every year across Europe. 'That’s our estimate for all animals management euthanised in the zoo, be it tadpoles up until a giraffe'. Among those killed were 22 healthy zebras, four hippos and two Arabian Oryx were also put down. The Oryx were killed at Edinburgh and London zoos in 2000 and 2001."[36]