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Overcrowding forces controversial decision
The Nuremberg Zoo baboon cull has triggered a wave of public anger. The zoo confirmed it euthanized 12 healthy Guinea baboons, citing overcrowding, failed birth control, and no available space in other facilities.
The Bavarian zoo was designed for 25 primates, yet the population reached 43. As a result, aggression and injuries increased among the animals. Deputy director Jörg Beckmann explained that years of failed contraceptive methods left few alternatives.
Relocation efforts fall short
Moreover, Beckmann said they contacted zoos in Paris, China, and other regions, but all declined. Despite the mounting protests, the cull went forward. On the day of the killings, activists breached the zoo’s perimeter, and one glued herself to the ground in protest.
Beckmann emphasized that no pregnant baboons were among the euthanized animals. Additionally, the remains will serve as food for the zoo’s carnivorous species.
Zoo leadership defends the move
Meanwhile, zoo director Dag Encke defended the Nuremberg Zoo baboon cull. He described it as the result of “years-long considerations” to safeguard animal welfare. According to Encke, overcrowding in confined spaces leads to stress and physical harm.
“If left unaddressed,” he argued, “these conditions could violate the very laws designed to protect animals.”
Strong reaction from animal welfare groups
However, animal rights group Pro Wildlife condemned the decision and filed a criminal complaint. They accused the zoo of decades of irresponsible breeding. “This was entirely avoidable,” the group declared.
Likewise, legal expert Christoph Maisack stated that German law permits euthanasia of vertebrates only for “reasonable cause.” He argued that overbreeding alone fails to meet this standard.
Broader ethical concerns in European zoos
This case also recalls the 2014 killing of Marius the giraffe in Copenhagen. That incident drew global outrage when the giraffe was dissected in public and fed to lions.
Consequently, the Nuremberg Zoo now faces both legal challenges and a fierce public backlash. The baboon cull may influence how European zoos handle breeding and animal welfare in the future.
