Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Swiss zoo culls endangered lion cubs
London Daily Telegraph ^ | july 29th, 2007 | DancesWithCats

Posted on 07/29/2007 3:40:59 PM PDT by DancesWithCats

A Swiss zoo has provoked public dismay by culling two endangered Namibian lion cubs because it did not have space for them.

In June, Basel Zoo proudly announced that a five-year-old lioness, imported from Namibia, had given birth to four cubs; three males and one female. However, last week the zoo decided to put two of the male cubs to sleep and feed their carcasses to other animals. It explained that the lion enclosure was not big enough for them and said it could not find another zoo to adopt them.Thomas Jermann, a curator, said that if the cubs had been put in the enclosure, they would have posed a threat to the leading male in the pride, who would have killed them. "In nature, most of the cubs die within the first year. This is normal," he said.

The zoo has kept one male and one female, but admits it will also have to find them a home. "We tried every zoo we could think of. Hopefully, it will be easier to find a home for two," said Mr Jermann.

He said it was normal to cull cubs and to feed them to other animals. "If there are animals you can feed them to, you feed them. It is the same as a farm, we are producers of meat, and we put the meat into the food chain," he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Science; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: animalrights; endangered; euthanized; lions; zoo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: DancesWithCats
Not exactly a happy ending.


21 posted on 07/30/2007 3:39:50 PM PDT by Daffynition (The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DancesWithCats

Other than crocks not too many carnivores eat other carnivores..

Perhaps he fed them to the little lambs.


22 posted on 07/30/2007 3:57:34 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (Taz Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag
First nail him to plywood, then let’s discuss it.

Amen to that!

23 posted on 07/30/2007 4:38:18 PM PDT by Kitty Mittens (To God Be All Excellent Praise!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: TASMANIANRED

Huh? First thing a male lion does, after taking over a pride of females, is eat all the cubs not his.


24 posted on 07/30/2007 4:43:28 PM PDT by patton (Get the H$LL off of my ROOF!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

PETA is not going to like this if they hear about it....


25 posted on 07/30/2007 4:55:21 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Stop the invasion. Secure the borders now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: patton

He kills them but doesn’t eat them as a rule...

Leaves them lying around so the females know who is the boss...


26 posted on 07/30/2007 5:05:05 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (Taz Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Arrowhead1952
PETA is not going to like this if they hear about it....

You mean if the lions are still alive...

27 posted on 07/30/2007 5:39:58 PM PDT by Lady Jag (I dreamed I surfed all day in my monthly donor wonder bra - https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: TASMANIANRED

28 posted on 07/30/2007 5:42:44 PM PDT by Lady Jag (I dreamed I surfed all day in my monthly donor wonder bra - https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows

So very sad. =^..^=


29 posted on 07/31/2007 4:01:01 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

A lion-pecked male lion. =^..^=


30 posted on 07/31/2007 4:01:55 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson