A woman has shared her reasoning behind donating her daughter's pet pony to a zoo, which sparked controversy after the zoo requested donations of 'healthy' unwanted pets to feed their predators.

The Aalborg Zoo in Denmark faced criticism from animal enthusiasts worldwide for their request, which they posted on social media. The post stated: "In zoos, we have a duty to replicate the natural food chain of animals, both for animal welfare and professional integrity.

"If you have a healthy animal that needs to be rehomed for any reason, feel free to donate it to us."

The post further explained that animals are 'gently euthanized' by trained staff before being used as food, concluding: "This ensures nothing is wasted and supports the natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being of our predators."

Despite some social media backlash, Pernille Sohl, 44, went ahead and donated her teenage daughter Angelina's German riding pony, named Chicago 57, to the zoo.

Aalborg Zoo in Denmark offers to take in people's unwanted pets to be used as food for their carnivorous animals (Peter Bischoff / Stringer / Getty Images)

"It might seem quite dramatic and strange to feed your pet to zoo animals," she told The Times. "But they would be put down anyway, and they are not alive when given to the predators."

Chicago 57 was 22 years old when he passed away in 2020 and had been suffering from eczema caused by mosquito bites, which worsened during the summer.

His eczema resulted in painful open wounds that posed a risk of infection, and towards the end of his life, he had to wear a jacket and leg protection.

Sohl mentioned that she allowed Angelina, who was 13 at the time, to decide whether to donate her beloved pony's body, and Angelina 'chose the zoo, as it made the most sense'.

She further explained that her daughter had a 'bad experience' when witnessing one of her mother's horses being 'taken away by the vet to be euthanized', adding: "This time, she wanted to follow the food chain. She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals."

Sohl, who operates a small farm in Assens, Denmark, where children with mental health issues can spend time with horses, assured that the 150-mile journey to the zoo was 'not stressful' for the horse.

The mother explained that her daughter made the choice herself to donate her beloved pony's body to the zoo (Darya Komarova / Getty Images)

"I would never have done it with a horse that wasn't accustomed to being transported in a trailer," she emphasized. She was also present when Chicago 57 was euthanized, telling The Times that he was 'humanely killed with a bolt gun'.

"A zookeeper was there, comforting and kissing him — as if it were me standing with him," Sohl recalled. "I got to say a final goodbye."

She was later informed that the horse's carcass had been fed to the zoo’s lions. The Times also reports that Sohl did not receive any compensation from Aalborg Zoo for donating Chicago 57.

In an earlier statement to Tyla, Aalborg Zoo stated: "At Aalborg Zoo, we have always housed various carnivores. Carnivores are an important and diverse group of animals in nature.

"They occupy a central niche in ecosystems and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature.

"At the same time, predators inspire both fascination and curiosity – and help convey important messages about the connections in nature and biodiversity.

The horse was fed to the zoo's lions (HY. JIANG / Getty Images)

"We have both large and small carnivores in Aalborg. We prioritize the animals' health, monitoring them daily, conducting daily veterinary checks, and assessing their welfare based on these observations.

"For many years at Aalborg Zoo, we have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock. When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, ideally with fur, bones, etc., to give them as natural a diet as possible."

They added: "Therefore, it makes sense to utilize animals that need to be euthanized for various reasons in this way.

"In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations include chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses."