翻譯：觀念座標

2014年2月，丹麥動物園殺死了一隻兩歲的健康長頸鹿Marius，並將其屍體公開餵獅子。這樣的決定，引起各界不同的聲音，丹麥動物園的園長Bengt Holst還因此收到不同的死亡威脅。

最近，他接受德國《星辰（Stern）》雜誌的專訪，談及他當時的考量和決定、以及人類和動物之間的關係。

當時決定要讓Marius安樂死的原因是，二歲的Marius開始與牠的父親有強烈的對決。在自然界中，這樣的年齡通常已經自立。丹麥動物園開始意識到，有為Marius尋找新家的必要。

當時，英格蘭有動物園表示願意接收Marius，但是該動物園已經有Marius血緣相近的兄弟，整體而言和Marius相近的長頸鹿數量已經足夠。

Holst指出，過去動物園會爭取擁有特定物種，但現在各動物園都試圖追求多元物種。綜觀整個動物園的情況，Marius這個長頸鹿的品種，目前沒有面臨滅絕的可能。

至於讓Marius的屍體去餵食獅子，Holst認為，這是自然界的一部份。在自然界之中，動物和動物之間不像迪士尼卡通。

Veterinarians cut apart the carcass of the giraffe Marius after it was killed in Copenhagen Zoo February 9, 2014. The Copenhagen Zoo went ahead with a plan to shoot and dismember a healthy giraffe on Sunday and feed the 18-month-old animal's carcass to lions - an action the zoo said was in line with anti-inbreeding rules meant to ensure a healthy giraffe population. The giraffe, named Marius, was shot in the head and then cut apart in view of children, according to a video of the incident released by the Denmark-based production company Localize. The zoo's plans had sparked an outcry from animal rights activists. A British zoo had offered to give Marius a home and even started an online petition to save the giraffe, gathering more than 25,000 signatures. Picture taken February 9, 2014. REUTERS/Kasper Palsnov/Scanpix Denmark (DENMARK - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK - RTX18IAH

Photo Credit: Reuters/達志影像

對於外界指責血腥、暴力，讓長頸鹿公開死亡，甚至取出其心臟，Holst為這個決策辯護道：「當我們決定這麼做時，就必須公開做。」

他認為，這樣才會讓整件事有意義，包括由獸醫在旁解釋，為何這顆心臟重達12公斤，是人類的40倍——這樣才能讓血液流動到5公尺高的地方。這都是讓死亡「去神話」的過程，也都是自然的一部份。即便動物園的存在，本身已經違反自然，也應該儘量貼近自然運作—讓獅子去撕啃真正的肉、骨和皮膚，訓練牠們的牙齒。

至於人和動物的關係之間，Holst認為，將動物「人化」是一件危險的事。動物應該被尊重，但不應該被「人化」。動物和人不一樣，血腥的獵食、決鬥、老弱者被淘汱，都是生態性常態的一環，但是卻常常被都市人所扭曲。

其實，Holst也反對為動物命名：給動物一個陌生的名字Marius，是來自照護者，因為在照顧的過程中，喊長頸鹿甲、或是乙，不是實際的作法，所以才將其命名。

Marius the giraffe is pictured in Copenhagen Zoo February 7, 2014. The Copenhagen Zoo went ahead with a plan to shoot and dismember a healthy giraffe on Sunday and feed the 18-month-old animal's carcass to lions - an action the zoo said was in line with anti-inbreeding rules meant to ensure a healthy giraffe population. The giraffe, named Marius, was shot in the head and then cut apart in view of children, according to a video of the incident released by the Denmark-based production company Localize. The zoo's plans had sparked an outcry from animal rights activists. A British zoo had offered to give Marius a home and even started an online petition to save the giraffe, gathering more than 25,000 signatures. Picture taken February 7, 2014. REUTERS/Keld Navntoft/Scanpix Denmark (DENMARK - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK - RTX18IAA

Photo Credit: Reuters/達志影像

本文獲觀念座標授權刊登，原文發表於此

責任編輯：翁世航
核稿編輯：楊士範