Copenhagen Zoo Kills 4 Lions Weeks After Giraffe Controversy

A Danish zoo that has already faced criticism for killing a giraffe in February to prevent inbreeding, is under fire again — this time for putting down four healthy lions to make space for a new male.

The lions were killed to make way for a new pride after the zoo received a another male, and to avoid the risk of inbreeding, according to a statement on the zoo's website.

Officials claimed it made sense to keep two females from a 2012 litter to mate with the new male, which arrived on Monday from Givskud Zoo, but that leaving the rest would pose a number of risks. Read more...