The Danish zoo that prompted worldwide indignation for its decision to put down a healthy young giraffe has risked further ire by putting down four healthy lions - to make way for a new one.
The lions which were euthanized yesterday were a 16-year-old male, a lioness of simlar age and two 10-month-old cubs, according to the Copenhagen Post
The four cats - part of the pride that made headlines worldwide for eating the remains of Marius - were put down because the zoo has an incoming lion, a three-year-old breeding male.
They were euthanized partly to avoid inbreeding between the two young lions and their father, and partly to avoid conflict between the family and the new arrival, who would have been likely to kill and eat the cubs.
"Because of the pride of lions' natural structure and behaviour, the zoo has had to euthanize the two old lions and two young lions who were not old enough to fend for themselves," Copenhagen Zoo said in a statement.
The zoo insisted no other home could be found for the lion family.
The new lion will be introduced to the remaining members of the Copenhagen pride, which features two breeding females, this week.
Copenhagen Zoo - and the Danish public - have remained steadfast against the outcry prompted by the killing of Marius the giraffe, and subsequent public autopsy.
Bengt Holst, the zoo's scientific director, said that death was part of life in the animal kingdom and that such decisions were necessary to preserve the genetic integrity of their animal populations.