The requirement for the integrity of individual animals sometimes conflicts with the species-appropriate keeping of some wild animal species. This concerns for example the feeding of meat to predators such as our griffon vultures . This also includes the carcasses of other zoo animals such as our piglets. Population management may also require the killing of healthy animals for breeding especially as part of coordinated breeding programs.
These definitions do not imply any contradiction between the legitimate concerns of animal welfare for responsible and professional keeping of wild animals.
On the other hand organizations of the animal rights industry with an allegedly "higher moral claim of individual animal protecion" accept the extermination of animal species in a condoning way or work specifically towards it.
such as small mammals or domestic hoofed animals are bred for predators apply to the same extent that legal requirements of animal welfare must be observed at all times and in all respects.
is ideal in terms of nutritional physiology and behavioral biology for the animal-appropriate keeping in human care. In zoological institutions this topic is dealt with openly when it comes to conveying the natural or close to nature cycle.
Predators need to feed from animals for a species-appropriate husbandry. We produce that meat in the zoo. This is the only way for us to avoid products from non-species-appropriate industrial factory farming.
We offer our “feeding animals” a life appropriate to the species. That includes:
"Animal welfare" aims to enable animals to live according to their individual species-appropriate hubandry without causing them unnecessary suffering, pain or damage. Animal welfare is based on animal welfare law which is regulated by the relevant EU regulations, national animal welfare laws and the respective national regulations.
who represent the extreme point of view by rejecting all (livestock) animal husbandry by humans. They want to see animals and people on an equal footing.
As a scientifically managed zoological institution which is a member of all relevant national and international zoo associations Görlitz Nature Conservation Zoo places the highest demands on all its employees
In addition the zoo management is in close and regular contact with the responsible supervisory authorities such as the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and the Veterinary Office.
