In late July 2025, the Tiergarten Nürnberg zoo in Germany undertook a controversial decision to euthanize twelve baboons amidst escalating protests and criticism from animal rights organizations. This decision stemmed from long-standing concerns that the zoo lacked sufficient space to accommodate a rapidly growing population of Guinea baboons. Since its initial announcement in February 2024 regarding the need to cull some of the animals, the zoo had faced mounting pressure and backlash from the public and animal welfare advocates, leading to demonstrations and heightened scrutiny of its animal management practices.
The zoo’s management argued that they had explored various alternatives, including offers from other zoos to take in some of the baboons, but reportedly found none of these options feasible. As the situation escalated, the zoo communicated its intention to proceed with the culling, ultimately leading to a temporary closure of its facilities on the day of the killings, ostensibly for “operational reasons.” This shutdown served as a backdrop for escalating tensions at the site, culminating in protest actions where activists attempted to draw attention to the zoo’s actions, including one protester who glued herself to the ground.
Following the culling, the zoo’s deputy director, Jörg Beckmann, clarified that the selected baboons were neither pregnant females nor part of ongoing studies. After being euthanized, samples were collected from the animals for research, and the bodies were repurposed as food for the zoo’s carnivorous species. Zoo director Dag Encke emphasized that this drastic measure followed “years of consideration,” asserting that the zoo was facing potential conflict with animal welfare laws due to the unsustainable population size. The decision to cull was classified as a measure to maintain a healthy animal population, but it was met with severe backlash from animal protection advocates.
Criticism intensified as animal rights groups filed legal complaints against the zoo management, claiming the cull constituted a violation of animal protection laws and that the zoo had failed in its breeding and population management duties. Laura Zodrow, a spokesperson for the Pro Wildlife organization, voiced strong opposition, declaring that the killing could have been prevented and labeling the action unlawful. The controversy was compounded by the revelation that the baboon population had swelled to 43, significantly exceeding the capacity of their enclosure — built to house only 25 adult animals and their offspring.
While the zoo stated that it had previously attempted to mitigate the issue through the relocation of 16 baboons to various international zoos since 2011, these efforts were thwarted as the receiving institutions reached their limits. An unsuccessful attempt at implementing contraception was abandoned years prior, further complicating the management of the baboon population. Despite such measures, the inability to effectively control the baboon population culminated in the tragic decision to cull them.
The euthanasia of animals in European zoos is not unprecedented, sparking debates on ethical considerations surrounding animal management practices. Past incidents, such as the highly publicized culling of a healthy giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo in 2014, have drawn significant public outrage and led to calls for greater accountability in how zoos handle animal populations. The situation in Nürnberg serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing tensions between wildlife management practices and animal rights, igniting calls for reform and more humane approaches to zoo management.
