A Danish mother has found herself at the center of international attention after defending her controversial decision to donate her teenage daughter’s beloved pet pony to a zoo that feeds donated animals to its predators.
Pernille Sohl made headlines when she gave Chicago 57, a 22-year-old pony that belonged to her 13-year-old daughter Angelina, to the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark. The decision came after the zoo went viral on social media for posting a Facebook request asking people to donate unwanted pets as food for their big cats and European lynxes.
The zoo’s August 2025 post sparked immediate controversy across the internet. “If you have an animal that needs to be removed from here for various reasons, you are welcome to donate it to us,” the zoo wrote. “The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and then used as food. This way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”
The backlash was swift and severe, forcing the zoo to disable comments on the post and issue warnings against “hateful and malicious rhetoric.” However, for Sohl, the offer represented a practical solution to a heartbreaking situation.
Chicago 57 had been suffering from painful health issues, including open wounds caused by eczema triggered by mosquito bites. When the pony’s condition became unbearable and euthanasia became necessary in 2020, Sohl faced the difficult task of explaining the situation to her young daughter.
“It might sound very dramatic and bizarre that you would feed your pet to animals in the zoo,” Sohl told The Times. “It is not like they are alive when they are given to the predators.”
Rather than making the decision unilaterally, Sohl presented Angelina with several options for handling Chicago 57’s remains. Surprisingly, the teenager chose the zoo donation herself.
“I gave Angelina the various options and she chose the one with the zoo, because it made the most sense,” Sohl explained. “She wanted to follow the food chain. She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals.”
The actual process was handled with care and dignity, according to Sohl, who remained present throughout the euthanization procedure. “There was a zookeeper standing there cuddling and kissing him — as if it was me standing with him,” she recalled.
Chicago 57 ultimately became food for the zoo’s lions, fulfilling what Sohl described as following the natural food chain. While the decision has drawn criticism from pet lovers worldwide, zoo officials maintain that such donations are nothing new for their facility.
Anete Sofie Warncke Nutzhorn, the zoo’s chief zoologist, revealed that accepting euthanized pets has been standard practice throughout the institution’s history. “We have always done it, as long as the zoo has existed,” Nutzhorn told local media outlets. “The debate has surprised us, but we are happy to take it and stand by it. We are put into the world to talk about nature and ecosystems.”
The controversy has brought attention to what appears to be a well-established program at Aalborg Zoo. Statistics show that the facility has received numerous donated animals over the years, including 137 rabbits, 18 guinea pigs, 53 chickens, and 22 horses.
For Sohl and her daughter, the decision represents a practical approach to loss and an acceptance of natural processes. Despite the global scrutiny, both mother and daughter appear to stand by their choice. They view it as a meaningful way to honor Chicago 57’s memory while serving a greater purpose in the ecosystem.