Jack Hanna Condemns ‘Grotesque’ Giraffe Killing, Denmark Zoo Getting Death Threats

A Copenhagen zoo has been roundly condemned for euthanizing a young giraffe and feeding it to the lions… with children watching the whole thing. It was understandably horrifying and thousands of people who signed a petition to save Marius the giraffe were outraged, and now the zoo is receiving death threats for taking such drastic action.

A spokesman for the zoo said “several staff members” were targeted with such threats, and one of the zoo directors “received threats via telephone and e-mails.”

Perhaps the most outraged person about the giraffe killing is American zookeeper Jack Hanna, who shared his absolute disdain on CNN Monday night. He called it “grotesque, abominable, insensitive,” and said it can’t simply be excused as a “cultural difference.”

After all, the idea is that the giraffe was killed because of a “surplus problem,” and Hanna said, “We can find a home for this giraffe very easily.” There was a petition that attained over 27,000 signatures, but failed in its goal to save Marius.

Watch the video below, via CNN:

[photo via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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