Why Did a Healthy, Young Giraffe Have to Die at the Copenhagen Zoo?

A two-year-old giraffe was put down by officials at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark on Sunday. The decision was made to prevent inbreeding within the giraffe population at the zoo

The giraffe in question, Marius, was otherwise healthy and loved. The decision was made despite a petition with more than 27,000 signatures and numerous attempts by other zoos to take in Marius, such as the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the UK. But the Copenhagen Zoo refused to send away the giraffe

The zoo's choice to euthanize Marius was based on the bylaws of the European Breeding Programme for Giraffes, which "prohibit inbreeding in an effort to maintain the health of the stock," according to Time. Read more...