A Danish zoo is asking owners of companion animals nearing life’s end to instead donate them as food for captive lynxes, lions and other carnivores.

The zoo explained in a Facebook post that “if you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us.”

The organisation suggested chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an 'important' part of the diet of its predators, which include tigers, lions and lemurs.