BASEL, Switzerland -- Farasi, a hippopotamus calf born Nov. 6, is 220 pounds of chunky, doe-eyed star power. The Basel Zoo's biggest attraction, he is so popular he was named "Swiss of the Year" for 2008, beating out tennis star Roger Federer.

But this zoo is not big enough for two male hippos, even if they are father and son. And in Europe, a homeless hippo is a dead hippo.

American zoos believe in birth control or sexual abstinence for their animal populations. But Europe's 4,000 zoos take a more continental approach to reproductive rights: Animals should be free to do what comes naturally. The result is a surplus of offspring. And if zookeepers can't find a home for the babies, zoos typically kill them. Some carcasses are used for research. Meatier cuts -- and Farasi surely qualifies -- are thrown to the lions.

That harsh reality has shocked the famously peace-loving Swiss. Amid the joy of Farasi's birth, zoo spokeswoman Tanja Dietrich said he'd be put up for adoption. Or else? Zoo policy, she said, is to "put down excess animals and feed them to carnivores."

Switzerland's popular commuter tabloids pounced like caged cats, with headlines like "Little Farasi is going to die!" and "Help! Who will rescue me?"