Outrage after zoo shoots baboons due to 'overcrowding' and feeds them to predators

A zoo in the German city of Nuremberg culled 12 Guinea baboons due to enclosure overcrowding.

The monkeys were shot, samples were taken for research, and then their bodies were fed to the Tiergarten Nürnberg zoo's predators.

Overcrowding caused "increase in conflicts" between the animals, and there was no alternative option for re-housing them, the zoo said.

Christoph Maisack, head of the German Legal Association for Animal Protection Law, argued that the animals were led to breed too freely.

He said this "cannot constitute such a reason" for killing the animals.

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Seven animal rights activists were arrested on Tuesday after they entered the grounds to protest the decision.

One woman glued her hands to the ground near the establishment's entrance.

The zoo then announced it was closing for "operational reasons" - triggering demonstrated to climb over the fence. They were subsequently arrested.

The zoo confirmed none of the baboons killed were pregnant or part of scientific studies.

Dag Encke, the zoo's director, said the decision came after "years long consideration".

He added that culling of animals can be a "legitimate last resort to preserve the population".

The director pointed out that the action was in line with criteria set out by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

Animal rights groups have filed a criminal complaint against the zoo for culling baboons which were in "perfect health".

A spokesperson for Pro Wildlife said the decision was "avoidable and illegal", the BBC reported.

"Healthy animals had to be killed because the zoo maintained irresponsible and unsustainable breeding policies for decades," they said.