12 healthy baboons euthanised at German zoo due to overcrowding, sparks outrage
Nuremberg, Germany: The Nuremberg Zoo is under intense scrutiny after euthanising 12 healthy Guinea baboons due to overcrowding, a move that has drawn condemnation from animal rights groups and sparked widespread public outrage.
According to a statement issued by the zoo on Tuesday, the decision followed several failed attempts to rehome the animals or control the population through contraceptive methods. The baboon troop had grown to 40 members, far exceeding the enclosure’s intended capacity of 25. Zoo officials said the overcrowding led to heightened aggression and frequent injuries among the animals, making the situation unsustainable.
"There was no other option," the zoo stated, noting that it had already warned the public in February 2024 about the possibility of culling due to space constraints.
The facility remained closed to visitors on Tuesday for "operational reasons," though many believe the closure was directly linked to the controversial euthanisation.
Animal rights group Pro Wildlife filed a criminal complaint against the zoo, accusing it of violating animal protection laws. "Healthy animals had to be killed because the zoo maintained irresponsible and unsustainable breeding policies for decades. This culling was avoidable and illegal in our opinion," the group told DW News.
Several other advocacy organisations have echoed this condemnation, demanding accountability and systemic changes to zoo management practices.
Zoo director Dag Encke defended the decision, telling the BBC that the action was taken after “years-long consideration” and complied with guidelines set by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). He described culling as “a legitimate last resort to preserve the population.”
Despite the defence, critics argue that the zoo has not outlined concrete measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Experience comes when you play bigger teams in bilateral series: Rashid Khan
Chennai (PTI): Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan called for more bilateral series against stronger cricketing nations after his team signed off from the T20 World Cup on a high, defeating Canada in their final group match here on Thursday.
Afghanistan played some exhilarating cricket, going down to South Africa in a gripping second Super Over after the scores were tied, a humdinger that provided one of the early thrills of the World Cup.
However, the spin-bowling stalwart said Afghanistan could make significant strides if they get regular opportunities to compete against stronger cricketing nations.
"Couple of areas to improve, with the batting, the middle order got a bit stuck against the big teams, and then with the bowling the death overs. That comes when you play the bigger teams in bilateral series," said Rashid after his team defeat Canada by 82 runs, with him returning excellent figures of 2 for 19.
The stalwart said the side had arrived well prepared for the tournament and produced some breathtaking cricket, but admitted the narrow defeat to South Africa proved costly and remained a painful setback.
"We were well-prepared (for the tournament), we played some unbelievable cricket. The game against South Africa, that really hurt everyone. We had to win one of those (first two) games and see how the tournament unfolded. We'll take some positive things from this World Cup and look forward," he said.
With head coach Jonathan Trott set to part ways with the team, Rashid described the departure as an "emotional" moment for the side.
"I think we had some wonderful times with him. Where we are now, he played a main role. It's emotional to see him leave us, but that's how life is. We wish him all the best and somewhere down the line we see him again."
Ibrahim Zadran, who was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, said it was satisfying to finally register a substantial score after two below-par outings.
"I enjoyed it, didn't play better cricket in first two innings, which I expect. Wanted to back my skills, really enjoyed it. Pressure was there, it's there all the time. I want to put myself in pressure situations and enjoy it," said Zadran.
"Wanted to play positive cricket, rotate strike and punish bad ball, create partnerships and this is what I have done."
