When most people say goodbye to a beloved pet, they choose burial, cremation, or a quiet vet visit. But for Danish mother Pernille Sohl, the farewell for her teenage daughter’s pony involved a 150-mile drive to Aalborg Zoo — and the lions’ lunch menu. According to a report from The Times, the decision, which Sohl insists was both compassionate and practical, has ignited an international debate on morality, ecology, and the “circle of life.”
A Painful Condition and a Difficult Choice
Chicago 57, a 22-year-old German riding pony, had been battling a severe eczema-like skin condition that worsened in summer. Mosquito bites left him with painful open wounds, forcing him to wear protective gear just to move comfortably.
By 2020, Sohl knew his quality of life had declined beyond recovery. She offered her daughter, Angelina — then 13 — the final say. “I gave Angelina the various options and she chose the one with the zoo, because it made the most sense,” Sohl told The Times.
Angelina had previously witnessed a vet-led euthanasia and found it distressing. This time, she wanted Chicago 57’s passing to benefit other animals.
From Farm to Predator Feast
Aalborg Zoo, one of Denmark’s busiest tourist attractions, was the only facility that could accept Chicago 57 at short notice. Upon arrival, the pony was humanely euthanised with a bolt gun while a zookeeper comforted him. “There was a zookeeper standing there cuddling and kissing him — as if it was me standing with him,” Sohl recalled. His body was then fed to the lions.
Sohl was so impressed with the process that she later tried to donate another horse, but it exceeded the zoo’s maximum storage size of 147 cm and ended up as dog food.
An Old Practice That Divides Opinion
Aalborg Zoo has accepted animal donations for predator feeding since its founding in 1935. In 2024 alone, the zoo received 22 horses, 137 rabbits, 53 chickens, and 18 guinea pigs. All are euthanised by trained staff before being given whole to lions, tigers, lynxes, and other carnivores.
The zoo explains on its website: “Predators need whole prey — including fur, bones and organs — as it contributes to both enrichment, nutrition and wellbeing.”
It is not an isolated policy. Copenhagen Zoo accepts around 50 horses a year, while Jyllands Park Zoo runs a similar programme. Healthy horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens are eligible, but cats and dogs are strictly prohibited.
Supporters See Nature, Critics See Cruelty
To supporters like Sohl, the decision reflects a natural life cycle and prevents waste. “It might sound dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo,” she said, “but they are going to be put down anyway.”
Helen Hjortholm Andersen, another Danish owner, took her Shetland pony Paprika to Jyllands Park Zoo when it could no longer walk. She described the alternative — costly disposal and removal alongside other dead animals — as both expensive and impersonal. “The idea that she could be of benefit made sense,” Andersen said.
But not everyone agrees. Aalborg Zoo’s recent Facebook appeal for more animal donations sparked global backlash, leading the zoo to disable comments after receiving hostile responses. “We understand that the post awakens feelings and interest, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary,” the zoo posted.
For Sohl and others, the choice was never about cruelty but about making a final act meaningful. “She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals,” Sohl said of her daughter. And in Aalborg, the lions roared their approval.
A Painful Condition and a Difficult Choice
Chicago 57, a 22-year-old German riding pony, had been battling a severe eczema-like skin condition that worsened in summer. Mosquito bites left him with painful open wounds, forcing him to wear protective gear just to move comfortably.
By 2020, Sohl knew his quality of life had declined beyond recovery. She offered her daughter, Angelina — then 13 — the final say. “I gave Angelina the various options and she chose the one with the zoo, because it made the most sense,” Sohl told The Times.
Angelina had previously witnessed a vet-led euthanasia and found it distressing. This time, she wanted Chicago 57’s passing to benefit other animals.
From Farm to Predator Feast
Aalborg Zoo, one of Denmark’s busiest tourist attractions, was the only facility that could accept Chicago 57 at short notice. Upon arrival, the pony was humanely euthanised with a bolt gun while a zookeeper comforted him. “There was a zookeeper standing there cuddling and kissing him — as if it was me standing with him,” Sohl recalled. His body was then fed to the lions.
Sohl was so impressed with the process that she later tried to donate another horse, but it exceeded the zoo’s maximum storage size of 147 cm and ended up as dog food.
An Old Practice That Divides Opinion
Aalborg Zoo has accepted animal donations for predator feeding since its founding in 1935. In 2024 alone, the zoo received 22 horses, 137 rabbits, 53 chickens, and 18 guinea pigs. All are euthanised by trained staff before being given whole to lions, tigers, lynxes, and other carnivores.
The zoo explains on its website: “Predators need whole prey — including fur, bones and organs — as it contributes to both enrichment, nutrition and wellbeing.”
It is not an isolated policy. Copenhagen Zoo accepts around 50 horses a year, while Jyllands Park Zoo runs a similar programme. Healthy horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens are eligible, but cats and dogs are strictly prohibited.
Supporters See Nature, Critics See Cruelty
To supporters like Sohl, the decision reflects a natural life cycle and prevents waste. “It might sound dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo,” she said, “but they are going to be put down anyway.”
Helen Hjortholm Andersen, another Danish owner, took her Shetland pony Paprika to Jyllands Park Zoo when it could no longer walk. She described the alternative — costly disposal and removal alongside other dead animals — as both expensive and impersonal. “The idea that she could be of benefit made sense,” Andersen said.
But not everyone agrees. Aalborg Zoo’s recent Facebook appeal for more animal donations sparked global backlash, leading the zoo to disable comments after receiving hostile responses. “We understand that the post awakens feelings and interest, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary,” the zoo posted.
For Sohl and others, the choice was never about cruelty but about making a final act meaningful. “She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals,” Sohl said of her daughter. And in Aalborg, the lions roared their approval.
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