Aalborg Zoo in Denmark is asking the public to donate “smaller pets” to be fed to its animals as part of an effort to replicate the natural food chain.

In a Facebook post, the zoo said trained staff will “gently euthanize” the animals, believing the practice supports the well-being of their predators by mimicking the natural flow of life.

Animals such as chickens, guinea pigs, and rabbits are considered “whole prey,” needed to simulate what predators hunt in the wild.

The zoo has faced backlash on social media, with pet owners expressing emotional distress and animal advocates condemning the move as a “cheap publicity stunt” and calling it a dark decision.

Some experts, however, say a worse practice is feeding zoo animals meat from livestock raised in poor conditions.

This approach is not unusual in Denmark, where certain animals are considered “excess.” In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a giraffe deemed useless for breeding.

In an updated post, the zoo disabled the comment section to prevent hateful remarks.