Marius- The Giraffe who was dissected
World Without Zoos Spotlight Series #3
This is the story of Marius, a young healthy giraffe, only 18 months old, who lived happily in the city and zoo of Copenhagen. However, darkness and misfortune eventually reached Marius. He was deemed useless by the zoo, as they say, his genes were too similar to other giraffes in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria breeding program. The zoo argued that there was nowhere for the giraffe to go, despite offers from other zoos to rehouse him. They finally announced the euthanization of Marius, which sparked anger, protests and a petition with more than 27,000 signatures. People argued about how the zoo had raised Marius, and it was entirely their responsibility to find a home for him. Despite these protests, the zoo followed through on their actions and had a vet shoot the healthy giraffe. Even more shocking was the fact that the zoo arranged a public show, where a scientist dissected the dead giraffe, with an audience of children and adults who watched with fascination. Marius was later tossed into a lion’s den, where he became a feast for the hungry lions. The ethicality for these actions is questioned by many even today. Marius’s home ended up harming him, showcasing his death, and justifying their actions. This tragedy broke many hearts in the bustling city of Copenhagen and the world.
