Denmark Zoo Asks 37 Hamsters for Sacrifice, Reykjavík Tourists Offer Goldfish
Denmark zoo staff, in a move raising both eyebrows and existential questions, publicly requested 37 small pets—think hamsters, gerbils, and even goldfish—be donated as fresh meals for predators. Recent search trends include, “Do zoos feed pets to lions?” and “Is it legal to donate pet hamsters for animal enrichment in Europe?” At Copenhagen’s Givskud Zoo, the initiative left some visitors pondering, “Can my childhood goldfish really end up on a lion’s dinner plate?”
While the goldfish auditioning beside a stoic guinea pig draws curious crowds, the zoo’s request has sparked a wave of “What happens if you give your pet to a zoo?” queries. Meanwhile, trending questions like, “Do tigers prefer live or pre-frozen food?” and “Why do zoos need unconventional meat sources?” surface. A local remarked with dry wit, “If Steve the goldfish avoids the tiger, maybe he’ll be promoted to aquarium manager by Thursday.”
Last year, 142 pets—including 7 parakeets and a turtle with stage fright—were donated, but only the turtle survived the week, reportedly by playing dead with Oscar-worthy conviction.
