Copenhagen Zoo have confirmed they put down a healthy young giraffe this morning despite a massive online campaign to save it. Yorkshire Wildlife Park said they were saddened by the news following their offer to rehome the animal.
Internet users have been expressing their outrage at the killing of Marius, a healthy giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo.
Read: Copenhagen giraffe 'killed and dissected for lion food'
Local Danish news agency BT said many families came to see the autopsy of the animal, performed by a member of staff in a white overalls and green gloves.
Pictures appear to show the member of staff explaining the process to the assembled visitors.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said it was saddened to hear the news the animal was destroyed. It had contacted the centre yesterday to offer to rehome it.
The Danish response to the killing of a young giraffe has been muted - perhaps because Denmark is a farming country.
A UK zoo has offered to rehome a young giraffe facing death in Denmark due to EU in-breeding laws.