Danish zoo that killed baby giraffe Marius and provoked outrage now inhumanely puts down four lions. Find out why the Copenhagen Zoo authorities resorted to take this drastic step. The same zoo was in news last month when it publicly culled a healthy giraffe because it was deemed surplus. The young healthy giraffe was euthanized because it was not needed for the zoo's breeding program. There was a huge worldwide uproar after the event and the manner in which it was carried out. The animal was publicly dissected and fed to the lions at the zoo.