Giraffe fed to lions at Danish zoo
A young giraffe named Marius was put down at the Copenhagen Zoo on Feb. 9, 2014, despite an online petition to save it signed by thousands of animal lovers.
The Copenhagen Zoo turned down offers from other zoos and $680,000 from a private individual to save the life of the healthy 2-year-old giraffe before killing and slaughtering it Sunday to follow inbreeding recommendations made by a European association.
The giraffe was put down using a bolt pistol and its meat was fed to carnivores at the zoo, spokesman Tobias Stenbaek Bro said. Visitors, including children, were invited to watch while the giraffe was dissected.
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Copenhagen
People look at the carcass of the giraffe, Marius, after it was killed at the Copenhagen Zoo, Feb. 9, 2014.