Warning: Video is graphic. A Copenhagen Zoo is dealing with intense backlash after it killed a healthy, two-year-old giraffe and fed its remains to lions on Sunday. The zoo maintains it took appropriate actions to prevent inbreeding.

The Lions in Copenhagen Zoo eat the remains of a perfectly healthy young giraffe named Marius was shot dead at Copenhagen zoo on Febuary 9, 2014 despite an online petition to save it signed by thousands of animal lovers. Marius, an 18-month-old giraffe, was put down with a bolt gun early on Sunday, zoo spokesman Tobias Stenbaek Bro confirmed.

Photograph by: Kasper Palsnov, AFP
Youtube Video ,AP

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