German Zoo Faces Outcry After Culling 12 Baboons Due to Overcrowding

The Tiergarten Nürnberg zoo in Germany has ignited a storm of controversy and public outrage following its decision to cull 12 healthy Guinea baboons. The drastic measure, carried out on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, was attributed by zoo officials to severe overcrowding within their enclosure and escalating internal conflicts among the baboon troop. This action, despite years of stated attempts to find alternative solutions, has drawn harsh condemnation from animal rights organizations and prompted protests both outside and inside the zoo grounds.
The baboon enclosure at Tiergarten Nürnberg, originally designed to comfortably house 25 animals, had seen its population swell to 43. This significant overpopulation, according to Zoo Director Dag Encke, led to an increase in aggressive interactions and injuries among the baboons, creating an unsustainable and potentially illegal living environment under animal protection laws. Encke stated that the decision to cull was a "difficult but necessary" last resort, taken after "yearslong consideration" and unsuccessful efforts to relocate the animals to other zoos or control the population through other non-lethal means, such as contraception.
Animal rights groups, including Pro Wildlife, have vehemently criticized the zoo's actions, calling the culling "avoidable and illegal." They argue that the zoo's "irresponsible and unsustainable breeding policies for decades" were the root cause of the problem, not an unavoidable circumstance. Several activists attempted to prevent the culling, with seven individuals arrested after breaking into the zoo premises, one even gluing her hands to the pavement near the entrance in a desperate plea to halt the operation. Criminal complaints have been filed against the zoo's management.
The zoo, which closed for "operational reasons" on the day of the culling, defended its decision by stating that it adhered to criteria set by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), which allows for culling as a "legitimate last resort to preserve the population" when other options are exhausted. The baboons selected for euthanasia were reportedly not pregnant females and were not part of ongoing scientific studies. They were humanely shot, with samples taken for research, and their carcasses were subsequently fed to predators within the zoo, a practice that, while common in some zoo management strategies, further intensified public outcry in this instance.
The controversy surrounding the Nuremberg Zoo highlights a recurring ethical dilemma within the zoo community: how to manage animal populations when breeding programs are successful, but space and resources are limited. Critics argue that zoos should prioritize non-lethal population control methods, such as contraception, sterilization, or finding suitable new homes in other accredited facilities or sanctuaries. They contend that the killing of healthy animals, particularly charismatic mammals like baboons, undermines the perceived conservation and educational missions of zoos and raises fundamental questions about animal welfare in captivity.
While some researchers and zoo associations suggest that culling can be a necessary tool for maintaining genetically healthy and socially stable populations, and can even be utilized as a "breed-and-feed" program to sustain predators within the zoo, public perception often struggles with the concept of euthanizing healthy animals. The incident in Nuremberg echoes past controversies, such as the culling of Marius the giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo in 2014, which also sparked global outrage.
The current debate in Germany underscores the tension between scientific management practices in zoos and public expectations regarding animal ethics. Animal rights advocates are now calling for greater regulation of zoos and their breeding policies, urging for a shift towards more compassionate and sustainable approaches to animal population management that avoid the need for culling healthy animals. The Nuremberg Zoo's decision, and the strong public reaction to it, will undoubtedly contribute to ongoing discussions about the role and responsibilities of modern zoos in a world increasingly conscious of animal rights and welfare.
Source@BBC