Andrew Juma, DigitalWorldwideNews.com, Nuremberg
July 30, 2025
Nuremberg Zoo’s decision to cull 12 healthy Guinea baboons due to overcrowding has ignited protests and global criticism.
On July 29, 2025, Nuremberg Zoo in Germany culled 12 healthy Guinea baboons due to overcrowding, sparking outrage and protests. The zoo, unable to rehouse the animals, fed their bodies to predators, prompting seven animal rights activists to storm the facility, with one gluing her hands to the ground. The decision, defended as a “last resort” by zoo director Dag Encke, has fueled global debates on zoo ethics, animal welfare, and cultural attitudes toward culling. Below, we answer key questions, drawing on BBC reports and global perspectives for accuracy.
Nuremberg Zoo culled 12 Guinea baboons after their population grew to 43, exceeding the enclosure’s 25-animal capacity, built in 2009. The zoo cited increased conflicts and injuries among the baboons due to overcrowding. Efforts to rehouse them failed, as zoos in Paris, China, and Spain, which took 16 baboons since 2011, were at capacity. Contraception attempts were abandoned years ago after proving ineffective. Deputy director Jörg Beckmann said the chosen baboons were neither pregnant nor part of studies, and samples were taken for research before feeding the bodies to predators.
Seven activists from groups like Animal Rebellion were arrested on July 29 after breaching the zoo, with one woman gluing herself to the entrance. Pro Wildlife called the culling “avoidable and illegal,” blaming “irresponsible” breeding policies. Christoph Maisack of the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law argued that unchecked breeding doesn’t justify killing healthy animals. Protests, ongoing since the zoo’s February 2024 announcement, featured signs reading, “We won’t remain silent until all animals live in freedom.” Social media, including X posts, labeled the act “brutal” and “cruel,” reflecting global anger.
Director Dag Encke defended the culling as a “legitimate last resort” to preserve a healthy population, aligning with European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) guidelines. He noted “yearslong consideration” and failed alternatives like relocation. The zoo argued that overcrowding threatened the baboons’ social structure, increasing stress and injuries. Feeding the carcasses to predators followed standard practice, as confirmed by EAZA protocols. Encke acknowledged public upset but maintained the decision was necessary for animal welfare.
Globally, culling in zoos is controversial but common. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo’s killing of a healthy giraffe, Marius, sparked outrage when its carcass was publicly dissected and fed to lions, highlighting Europe’s pragmatic approach to population control. The Washington Post notes that European zoos, unlike some U.S. facilities, view culling as a management tool, often citing space or genetic diversity. In contrast, Asian zoos, like those in China, prioritize relocation, per a 2023 Global Times report, reflecting cultural reverence for animal life. African perspectives, as voiced on X, emphasize Guinea baboons’ endangered status, criticizing culling over repatriation to West African sanctuaries.
In Germany, a strong animal welfare tradition—evidenced by its 2002 constitutional animal protection amendment—clashes with practical zoo management, fueling protests. The German Animal Protection Association called the culling a “taboo,” reflecting cultural sensitivity to killing primates, seen as close to humans. In contrast, Scandinavian countries, like Denmark, often accept culling as ethical, per a 2024 Politiken article. In India, where primates are culturally significant, X users expressed horror, advocating for sanctuaries. Western conservationist views, as noted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, prioritize species survival over individual animals, aligning with EAZA but alienating animal rights advocates.
The Nuremberg case echoes historical zoo controversies. A 2011 BBC report on “human zoos” highlighted Europe’s past exploitation of animals and people for display, framing modern culling as a legacy of utilitarian views. The 2014 Marius incident, widely covered by Reuters, set a precedent for public backlash against culling healthy animals. Recent narratives, like a 2023 Dutch zoo’s culling of surplus deer, show ongoing tensions between conservation and ethics. X posts note that Guinea baboons, down 25% in the wild over 30 years, face conservation challenges, making the culling a flashpoint for debates on zoo roles in species preservation.
Animal rights groups have filed criminal complaints, alleging violations of German animal protection laws. The zoo faces potential legal scrutiny, with Pro Wildlife pushing for stricter breeding regulations. Public pressure may force EAZA to review culling guidelines, as suggested by a 2025 Guardian op-ed. Globally, the incident could spur calls for sanctuary funding or repatriation programs for endangered species like Guinea baboons. Nuremberg Zoo remains closed for investigations, with activists planning further protests.
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