The intertubes are awash with rage at the death of Marius, a healthy eighteen-month-old giraffe who died at the hands of Copenhagen zookeepers. He was put down because of inbreeding concerns, as well as his ability to provide some meat to large cats also in the care of the zoo. His death, dismemberment, and disposal were all in full view of the public.
I understand the practical realities of caring for captive animals. I understand that there are deaths in such a context that are eminently defensible. (I used to raise fancy guppies.)
But I also know that you can communicate the unadorned reality of what happens to some animals without making it a fun-for-the-whole-family spectacle. So you had to feed this giraffe to lions, did you? All right. If you simply must share with the world at large, how about an unremarkable press release?
Is that really material for a “see kids…” sort of live show, featuring keepers slicing off pieces of giraffe and hoisting them for the crowd in the name of “education”?
What interest is served in killing Marius by tricking him into lowering his head for a favorite treat—rye bread—and then firing a captive bolt gun into it, for a live audience? What a truly awful betrayal of trust.
It could well be that Marius needed to die (though there are murmurs of offers to spare him that went unheeded). If it was truly necessary, then so be it. The act need be neither kind nor cruel. It merely is.
But collecting admission from a crowd, particularly one that includes children, to share in the marvelous wonder of the animal’s death, dismemberment, and disposal is disturbed and borderline sadistic.
There is a large difference between understanding this giraffe’s death and celebrating it.
Shame on you, Copenhagen Zoo. Shame on you.
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Reading this makes my physically ill. I know there are probably “good” zoos, circuses, and animal shows. But stories like this make me feel like there can’t possibly be. 🙁
There are definitely good zoos that are all about conservation and care. They tend to be the ones that are scientific facilities first and tourist attractions second. The Tennessee Aquarium is an excellent example.
But I read something like this and I think well, our humanity is just about gone. Hey, Copenhagen Zoo? I get it. There’s a defensible case there, and so be it.
Do we have to make T-shirts too?
You really don’t get it. It was not to entertain, it was to educate. To show people how an animal looks like on the inside. No different then when you dissect frogs in High School.
I do understand that education was the stated purpose, and referred to such in the post. I think it’s a wan premise.
Maybe a wan premise to American sensibilities. We already have a populace that cares more for what happens to stray puppies than whether pain-capable human beings are dismembered for the convenience of another.
In many, many situations, including the plight of homeless people, we tend to get more hell bent out of shape over a cat’s well being.
I blame Disney for this.
I understand, ‘seester. Still, that we don’t have those people in the right place on the scale doesn’t invalidate the giraffe’s place.
I’m most bothered by the rye bread/bolt gun. If you’re worried about saving the meat, then use a sniper rifle.
Interesting Disney comment. I’ll mull that.
I don’t understand why we can’t show compassion for all living things — regardless of species. Puppies and kittens and humans. It doesn’t have to be exclusive, does it?
My reaction to this story was much like yours, Bo. I was horrified about the way it was done (the breach of trust) and the presence of an audience. But after reflection, I wondered if my feelings were hypocritical. I eat meat. Zoo carnivores eat meat. How many cows and goats gave been slaughtered to feed carnivorous captive animals? Like you, I understand that unpleasant things sometimes have to be done when managing large populations of animals in an unnatural setting. This should have been done quietly and with respect to the giraffe.
Cheryl, there are some heinously cruel and barbaric practices that we’ve decided are “women’s health issues.” That we as a society discuss late-term abortion as if it were this mystifying thing with reasonable positions all around is beyond ridiculous. A civilized people ought to have some common sense about what is clearly a baby.
Yes, food is problematic, and the deeper you look the more problematic it gets. Making changes in the cruelty-free direction is difficult, but doable. We’re in the process and I’m hoping we get all the way there in 2014. The only thing we’ve accomplished 100% so far is with eggs. All of the eggs we eat come from a colleague’s backyard hens, who live in luxury. 🙂
About to starting working the meat problem with my stepbrother, whose family started in this direction for health reasons at least as much as animal welfare. He has reliable local sources for beef and chicken. Pork is a little more complicated, but not too bad. We need to get a chest freezer before we can get serious. You have to buy a good bit of meat at a time this way.
That human beings are the only animals capable of fully understanding dignity and respect in death is exactly why we have a responsibility to provide it.