Woman explains why she gave her daughter’s pony to a zoo to feed the lions

A woman has shared the reason why she chose to give her daughter’s pony to a zoo so that it could be fed to the lions.

A mom took an unconventional approach when her teenage daughter’s pony became ill. Credit: Peter Bischoff / Getty

Aalborg Zoo, one of Denmark’s largest tourist attractions, is home to more than 1,500 animals across 126 species.

Recently, the zoo launched a food drive, encouraging the public to donate both small and large animals to be fed whole to their carnivorous predators. This initiative aims to replicate the natural food chain while reducing waste by ensuring nothing goes to waste.

The animals donated are “gently euthanised by trained staff” before feeding, and this helps to support the "natural behaviour, nutrition, and well-being" of predators, per The Guardian.

Donors receive a tax rebate of DKK100 ($15.60) per small animal and DKK5 (78 cents) per kilogram for larger horses.

The campaign has inspired dozens of people to donate animals, including 22 horses, 18 guinea pigs, 53 chickens, and 137 rabbits.

One notable donor is Pernille Sohl, 44, from Denmark, who took an unconventional path when her teenage daughter’s pony fell ill.

Instead of taking the pony to a vet, she donated the 22-year-old German riding pony, Chicago 57, to Aalborg Zoo, where it was euthanised and fed to the resident lions.

Speaking to The Times, Sohl acknowledged that her decision might sound “very dramatic and bizarre,” but she emphasised: “They are going to be put down anyway, and it is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators".

Chicago 57 was suffering from severe eczema caused by mosquito bites that led to painful open wounds. This prompted Sohl to make the difficult choice to put him down in 2020.

An animal lover herself, Sohl runs a small farm in southwest Denmark that offers children with mental health challenges the chance to interact with horses.

Her teenage daughter, then 13, was allowed to decide what would happen to Chicago 57.

“She had previously watched one of my horses being taken away by the vet to be euthanised, and it was a bad experience for her,” she said. “She said that this time she wanted to follow the food chain. She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals.”

Recalling the moment at the zoo, Sohl said: “There was a zookeeper standing there cuddling and kissing him, as if it was me standing with him. I got to say a final goodbye.”

Lions devoured Chicago 57’s carcass, and impressed by the experience, Sohl later tried to donate another horse, Quantus, in 2024. However, Quantus was turned down because he exceeded the zoo’s size limits and was instead used for dog food.

The zoo encourages the public to donate both small and large animals. Credit: Peter Bischoff / Getty

Sohl is not alone in this decision, as Helen Hjortholm Andersen from Jutland donated her 20-year-old Shetland pony, Paprika, to Jyllands Park Zoo after being told to leave it to die in a field.

Andersen said: “The idea that she could be of benefit made sense. We would do it again. We like the idea of the cycle of life, and that a pony can help to create life for other animals."

Though the zoo’s approach has sparked controversy, supporters argue that it offers a sustainable, ethical food source for predators while replicating natural ecosystems.

Featured image credit: Peter Bischoff / Getty