A zoo in Denmark has called on the public to donate unwanted pets as part of a unique initiative to provide food for predators, the BBC reported.

The zoo in Aalborg has requested donations of live chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, which it says will be "humanely euthanized" by trained staff.

The zoo also accepts donations of live horses, with owners potentially eligible for tax relief.

In an Instagram post, the zoo explains that it has a "responsibility to mimic the animals' natural food chain" and that smaller animals "are an important part of our predators' diet."

The post states that food provided in this way "resembles what (predators - ed.) would hunt in the wild" - and that this is especially true for the Eurasian lynx.

Other predators kept at the zoo include lions and tigers.

Small animals can be donated on weekdays, no more than four at a time, without prior arrangement.

On its website, under a photo of a tiger devouring a piece of meat, the Aalborg Zoo lists the conditions for donating horses.

To be eligible, they must have a horse passport and not have been treated for any illness in the last 30 days.

The zoo's deputy director, Pia Nielsen, said that the zoo's carnivores had been fed smaller animals "for many years."

"When raising carnivorous animals, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with skin, bones, etc., to ensure they have as natural a diet as possible. That is why it is logical to allow animals that have to be euthanized for various reasons to be used in this way. In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The domestic animals we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses," Nielsen added. | BGNES