This is just sick. A Danish zoo has come under fire for killing a two-year-old "surplus" giraffe called Marius, whose only crime apparently was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Bengt Holst, who works as the scientific director at the zoo, said disposing of Marius was necessary as he was a byproduct of inbreeding and keeping him alive was a threat to the greater giraffe community.

When news of Marius's impending execution went viral, thousands decided to sign a petition to keep him alive. Other zoos from around the world had even offered to take him in, but the Danish zookeepers could not be dissuaded.

Marius was eventually shot in the head, his was body dissected and the carcass was fed to the lions at the zoo. But the worst part of all was when zoo visitors (including children) were invited to watch.

[BBC]