Twelve Guinea baboons were euthanized at Tiergarten Nürnberg Zoo in Germany on Tuesday, sparking outrage from animal rights groups and protesters. The move came after months of warnings from the zoo, which had long struggled with overcrowding in its baboon enclosure.
Originally built to house 25 baboons and their young, the enclosure was overwhelmed by a population that had swelled to 43. The zoo said the overcrowding led to frequent conflicts among the animals and that efforts to rehome some of them to other zoos in Paris, China, and Spain had reached a dead end. Attempts at contraception in the past also failed to reduce numbers effectively.
First announcing its intention to euthanize some baboons back in February 2024, the zoo faced immediate backlash from activists. On Monday, it warned that preparations for the culling were underway. By Tuesday morning, the zoo shut its gates, citing vague “operational reasons.” That same day, protesters broke into the grounds, with some gluing themselves to the pavement before being detained by police.
Shortly after, the zoo confirmed that 12 baboons had been killed. No further details were given, but animal welfare organizations said they plan to file criminal complaints against the zoo.
The controversial decision highlights a broader ethical debate surrounding zoo practices in Europe, where animal euthanasia for population control is not uncommon. A notorious example came in 2014 when Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a healthy giraffe and fed it to lions in front of an audience that included children, drawing global criticism.
As for Tiergarten Nürnberg, officials maintain that all options were exhausted — but the public outcry suggests the discussion is far from over.
