Neumünster Zoo in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has drawn up a slaughter list of its animals as part of its coronavirus emergency plan.

"Yes, we do have a list of animals that we would have to slaughter first," said Verena Kaspari, director of Neumünster Zoo, confirming initial reports in German media. The animals on the list would be fed to the zoo's lynx, eagles and "Germany's biggest polar bear" Vitus, who is 3.6 meters (over 11 ft) tall.

Goats and deer are on the slaughter list "but none of the endangered animals," Kaspari explained. "It's a worst-case scenario, we don't see it getting that way yet, but we have to think of it early enough."

A worst-case scenario would be if the delivery of fish and meat was no longer possible, because of a shortage of funds.

All zoos across Germany are closed as part of government measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The measures forced Neumünster Zoo to close on March 15.

Neumünster Zoo is a small zoo with over 700 animals including arctic foxes, maned wolves and seals, as well as Vitus. If the zoo is allowed to re-open at the end of April — if restrictions are relaxed then – Kaspari estimates it will have lost €175,000 ($191,000) in ticket sales and donations.

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No Easter income

Zoos are a favorite pastime of people in Germany. A total of 75% of Germans enjoy visiting the zoo, according to a study conducted by research institute Forsa. Berlin Zoo, with 20,000 animals, reports around 5 million visitors per year.

During a normal Easter weekend zoos manage to earn back the money they have spent to feed the animals over winter. When the zoos are closed to the public, the employees still need to take care of the animals. They need to be paid and the animals still need to be fed.

"We have zero income and the same costs," said Kaspari.

Some zoos can access funding from the local government, she explained, which can cover up to 10% of the expenses. Her zoo is a charity and therefore is not eligible to receive this type of financial assistance, surviving only from donations and entrance fees.

Duisburg Zoo's dolphin shows are often criticized by animal rights activists

All zoos struggling

Duisburg Zoo, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) with over 6,800 animals, has already worked out a contingency plan, their spokesperson told DW. The feedstores are still full, but a list has already been drawn up of employees who are absolutely necessary to keep up the care of animals, the rest could be sent home.

"Duisburg Zoo has no list of animals that would be killed for food because of the coronavirus pandemic," the spokesman said.

Krefeld Zoo was left reeling after a fire on New Year's Day devastated its Great Ape House, killing more than 30 animals. Now it already relies on the city's subsidies as a majority shareholder, said Krefeld Zoo in a statement. Drawing up a slaughter list is out of the question for them.

Read more: Germany's oldest zoo turns 175

Zoos regularly kill animals, says PETA

A spokesperson for animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Yvonne Würz, told DW that "populations management" was "nothing new for zoos."

"Zoos are funded through and live from tiny baby animals. When there is not enough space for the animals they are often killed for food [for other animals]," said Würz.

She explained that some zoos, such as the one in Nuremberg, are transparent about the numbers of animals they kill each year. From 2013-2015 Nuremberg zoo killed up to 60 animals per year, states the PETA website. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria estimates between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are killed in European zoos each year.

Read more: Meet Berlin Zoo's German-born panda twins

8 noteworthy European zoos Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg The zoo founded by Carl Hagenbeck in 1907 is known as the first one to use open enclosures surrounded by moats instead of cages. Hagenbeck's concept of presenting animals in a closer reproduction of the animals' natural environments was revolutionary and groundbreaking at the time. Today, most zoos in the world keep their animals that way as well.

8 noteworthy European zoos Zoom Erlebniswelt in Gelsenkirchen As its name indicates, in this zoo, visitors are "zoomed" into the animals' world. The Gelsenkirchen park, in Germany's Ruhr area, offers visitors a one-day journey around the world, allowing them to discover environments inspired by Alaska, Africa or Asia. They also get to watch Otis, an Asian small-clawed otter, create abstract oil paintings.

8 noteworthy European zoos Berlin Zoological Garden With some 1,300 different species and over 20,000 animals, the Berlin zoo boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of species in the world. Pictured above is polar bear cub Hertha, named after a local football club that's also one of the bear's sponsors. Hertha enjoys shooting a ball around her cave; she's apparently a "real athlete," according to the zoo's director Andreas Knieriem.

8 noteworthy European zoos Allwetterzoo Münster On rainy or freezing days, visitors may comfortably visit this zoo in Münster thanks to its covered passageways between the enclosures. During the "Galactic Days," held once a year, people costumed as Star Wars characters steal the show from the animals.

8 noteworthy European zoos Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen The Olderdissen zoo is open 24 hours a day and its admission is free. The zoological garden holds animals that are native to Germany, such as wolves, wild boars, brown bears (picture), martens, horses and more.

8 noteworthy European zoos Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna Founded in 1752, it is the oldest zoo in the world. It is located on the grounds of the famous Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, which was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and Empress Maria Theresa. The arrival of the first giraffe in 1828 tremendously impressed the visitors of the zoo, which had to be enlarged to accommodate its "high guest."

8 noteworthy European zoos Edinburgh Zoo Kin penguins, gentoo penguins, king penguins and rockhopper penguins: Penguin fans will get their money's worth in Edinburgh. It was the first in the world to house and breed the birds and it has remained faithful to this tradition to this day. One of the highlights is the famous penguin parade, where they are left out of their pool and walk the park around with their keepers.

8 noteworthy European zoos Loro Parque Tenerife The zoo on the Spanish island of Tenerife was founded by an entrepreneur from Cologne, Wolfgang Kiessling. It was initially a park for parrots — Loro Parque is Spanish for "parrot park." The breeding and protection of various species of parrots remains one of the specializations of the park. Author: Rayna Breuer (eg)



Extra funding

Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundestag, approved a €750 billion ($814 billion) aid package to protect the economy from the worst effects of the coronavirusoutbreak. The package includes assistance for self-employed, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.

The umbrella organization for Germany's zoos, VdZ, is demanding government support to the tune of €100 million ($109 million). "Unlike other facilities, we cannot simply shut down our operation; our animals must continue to be fed and cared for," VdZ chairman Jörg Junhold said at the end of March.

The state of Schleswig-Holstein has promised €5 million ($5.5 million) to support zoos, but "there's no way to apply for it yet," according to Neumünster Zoo's director.

Meanwhile, donations are the "only source of income" during the temporary closure, said Kaspari — and the announcement of the "slaughter list" has certainly brought publicity.

Neumünster Zoo has been posting videos on the zoo's Facebook page in German and English to help increase interest. The posts are accompanied by bank details for people to send donations. The donations were difficult to make plans on, because the amounts that people donate change each day.

This way the zoo is "good" financially, until mid-May, Kaspari says, keeping fingers crossed that they are allowed to reopen then.

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