Many major zoos feed animals horse meat (Video)
A response no doubt to the other article we posted about Albuquerque’s zoo use of horse meat. A disgusting practice that needs to be done away with – horses are not meat and the medications horses receive in their lifetime make them unfit as food for either man or beast. ~ HfH
Many major zoos feed animals horse meat; not unique to Albuquerque
Many major zoos feed animals horse meat; not unique to Albuquerque
Only six of the eleven zoos KOB contacted across the country responded, and results were mixed.
The San Diego Zoo said they do use horse meet, but said they only recently started using a little bit last year. The zoo said some of their animals stopped responding to all-beef diets, which is why they switched to horse meat for some animals.
The Houston Zoo said they also used horse meet, and noted it was the “most nutritious” meat available to them.
The Denver Zoo said they used horse meat as well, along with Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, and the Memphis Zoo, which said they used horse meat, but that it only comprised 10% of animals’ diets.
The only major zoo KOB contacted that said they did not use horse meat was Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo. The zoo said they stopped using horse meat about ten years ago for budgetary reasons.
Here in Albuquerque, BioPark Director Rick Janser said the zoo tried an all-beef diet, but said several types of animals stopped eating altogether. He says the horse meat they use is safe and comes from the same Canadian supplier that multiple zoos across the country use.
“You know, if something works, why change it?” Janser said. “Why change it just for the sake of changing it?”
Horse meat critics question the safety of the meat, saying horses, in general, are injected with more than 100 chemicals that undoubtedly have long-term health consequences.
After all, horse meat no longer exists in household pet food in the U.S.
Albuquerque plans to go forward with its ongoing purchase of horse meat in the next few weeks.
judye michaels
I am an animal lover but, maybe if the zoos which feed horsemeat, had their animals die and their workers lose their jobs and their zoos close – they would finally learn. Whatever it takes is how I feel!!!
Horses are always paying with their lives….
I’m SICK of it!!!
Daniel Cordero
I doubt pretty much that would happen… it doesn’t make any sense. All they have to do is sourcing their stock of meat somewhere else instead of lining the pockets of horsemeat industry moguls, and maybe pay a little bit more to purchase quality food for those in thier care. And, frankly, who on earth nowadays comes to these places -the zoos I mean-? It is a decaying institution, not to mention a business.
Lynn Huebner
We are presently battling to have the SAFE Act passed to protect people all over the world from the toxins contained in the bodies of horses. Why would you purposely feed it to animals in your care? I refuse to feed my dogs and cats any beef product as I have no means of determining whether it has been contaminated by the sick and brutal horror of the horse meat trade. So I boycott beef entirely. I am quite sure that zoos can find other sources of protein if they desired.
Daniel Cordero
For what is worth… I left a comment similar to that I posted yesterday. I suspect some press agency is, again, trying to resurrect the issue at the request of some top customer.It wouldn’t be the first time we see something like that.
Shane Destry
Let’s see suddenly in New Mexico, which rejected the idea of horse slaughter most vociferously last year, someone brings forcefully to the public’s attention the fact that they are going to feed zoo animals horse meat although they know this will infuriate a great number of people who will now boycott those zoos whom continue or begin this practice. Horses who contain drug residues known to be dangerous to human consumption are mysteriously safe for feeding to zoo carnivores ? Horse meat is considered so dangerous for consumption by dogs and cats that it has been removed from U.S. pet foods is nonetheless safe for zoo carnivores ? Behind the illogical fact of such inflammatory revelation to the public can only be some profiteer’s intention to see if they can run roughshod over the public’s rejection of the idea that horses are nothing more than meat on the hoof. It will not work and the proof of this will be increasing public pressure to shut down U.S. zoos altogether if they make such irresponsible and inhumane decisions as this !
Daryl
How can any one not know what drugs horses are given and to horses at times in there life does not get out of the system so should not be used as food for humans or other animals ?
This has been stated over and over a again. You jerks just keep coming out of the wood work.
Pam Ewing
Hmmm? It’s hard to believe that some zoo animals don’t want to eat the beef. So now some one will come up with the idea to open a horse slaughter plant to feed the zoo animals. And it is my understanding that the operation can run with out funding for inspectors. I find it coincidental that Valley Meat pulls all the permits and this scenario comes to light. Horses deserve better than this and as far as zoos are concern, shut them all down.
Debbie Stoutamire
I love zoos but I will never go to one again! Now if I could get in a cage and throw crap at people, especially the zoo keepers and those responsible for buying the horse meat, that might be a different story. Or if I could make a doo doo pie for those butt heads out of horse dung, which we all know does not stink since they are vegans, I think that would be appropriate, don’t you?
Diane McEvoy
“You know, if something works, why change it?” Janser said. “Why change it just for the sake of changing it?” Because it is wrong. Horses are not meant to endure horrific deaths to provide dinner for zoo animals. They are not meant for consumption, nor are they meant to be stolen away across the border to Canada where their screams of terror will hopefully never leave the memories of those who would slaughter them.
Lana Marie
It’s a no-brainer as far as ‘our’ medicated/drug filled horses! BUT…what stops them from feeding ‘wild horses’ those that the BLM quietly move around?