German zoo sees no ‘flaw’ in baboon killing, says future culls possible
Due to overcrowding at the zoo, other animals such as crowned lemurs, lemurs and gorillas could also be culled in the near future
A German zoo embroiled in a scandal over killing healthy baboons due to a lack of space has said other animals could be next.
Dag Encke, the director of Nuremberg Zoo in southern Germany, told the local Nürnberger Zeitung and Nürnberger Nachrichten newspapers that crowned lemurs, lemurs and gorillas could also be culled in the near future – although killing a gorilla has not yet been seriously considered, he said.
“We would not be able to do that emotionally – even if it is unprofessional and inconsistent,” he said in comments published by the newspapers on Friday.
The zoo came under fire in late July for killing 12 healthy baboons due to space constraints. Animal rights activists slammed the move and Encke received numerous death threats.
More than 350 complaints were filed with the public prosecutor’s office.
However, Encke has continued to defend the decision. The biologist told the newspapers that the culling was inevitable, citing reproduction rates, the legal and ethical limits of birth control, and the small number of baboon buyers.