Mom defends giving 13-year-old’s pony to Aalborg Zoo as food for big predators

A Danish mother has spoken out in defense of her decision to donate her teenage daughter’s beloved pony to a zoo after the animal was euthanized. The controversial move has sparked widespread debate following Aalborg Zoo’s viral social media post asking people to donate unwanted pets to feed their big cats and other predators.

Pernille Sohl says she gave her 13-year-old daughter Angelina several options for what to do with Chicago 57, their 22-year-old pony, after the animal was put down in 2020 due to health problems. The pony had been suffering from painful open wounds caused by eczema from mosquito bites. When the difficult decision was made to euthanize Chicago 57, Sohl presented her daughter with different choices for handling the animal’s remains.

“It might sound very dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo,” Sohl told The Times. “It is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators.” She explained that Angelina chose to donate the pony to the zoo because “it made the most sense” and “she wanted to follow the food chain.” The teenager felt that Chicago 57 could benefit other animals even after death.

Aalborg Zoo’s controversial pet donation program sparks global reaction

In early August 2025, Aalborg Zoo in Denmark gained international attention after posting on Facebook about accepting donations of unwanted pets to feed their European lynxes and other predators. The zoo explained that animals would be “gently euthanized by trained staff and then used as food” to ensure “natural behavior, nutrition and well-being” of their carnivores. While animal controversies often stir passionate debates, this particular request prompted the zoo to disable comments due to what they called “hateful and malicious rhetoric.”

The zoo’s chief zoologist, Anete Sofie Warncke Nutzhorn, defended the practice by stating they have “always done it, as long as the zoo has existed.” She emphasized that the program helps educate people about “nature and ecosystems.” The facility accepts various animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, and horses, through their donation program.

Sohl described the euthanization process as respectful and gentle. She was present when Chicago 57 was put down, and noted that “there was a zookeeper standing there cuddling and kissing him – as if it was me standing with him.” The pony’s remains were then fed to the zoo’s lions, completing what Sohl refers to as following “the food chain.”

According to zoo records, the Aalborg facility has received donations of 137 rabbits, 18 guinea pigs, 53 chickens, and 22 horses through their program. The practice highlights ongoing debates about zoo ethics and animal welfare that have persisted for years. Entertainment involving animals continues to raise questions about how society views the relationship between humans and animals, both in captivity and as companions.

The controversy surrounding Aalborg Zoo’s request reflects broader cultural differences in how various countries approach animal welfare and zoo management. While some view the practice as a natural way to provide proper nutrition for predators, others see it as crossing ethical boundaries. As animal welfare discussions become more prominent in popular culture, these debates are likely to continue generating passionate responses from people on both sides of the issue.

Despite the international criticism, both Sohl and the zoo stand by their decision. They argue that using euthanized animals as food for predators serves a practical purpose while maintaining the natural food chain that these animals would experience in the wild. The practice remains legal and accepted in Denmark, even as it continues to draw scrutiny from animal rights activists and pet owners around the world.