The decision by Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark to kill one of its giraffes last weekend sparked anguish . The news four days later that a second Danish zoo might follow suit prompted howls of outrage . But Jyllands Park Zoo has now said that those fears are groundless . In a statement on its official Facebook page , under the heading `` Problem solved , '' it said the giraffe 's future was assured . The zoo said Thursday it might also have to `` euthanize '' one of its male giraffes -- which coincidentally shares the name Marius with the giraffe that was killed -- if a female was brought in to breed . But it now says the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria -- a body governing 345 institutions -- has no plans to send a female `` any time soon . '' As a result , the zoo said , it would `` of course keep both our giraffes , as we have stated all along . There is no plan , and there has never been a plan to neither move or euthanize any of our giraffes . '' Jyllands Park Zoo said reporting of the threat to its Marius had been based on a `` hypothetical situation '' which `` now seems to be eliminated . '' The suggestion that a second Marius might be euthanized prompted a slew of angry comments on the zoo 's Facebook page . A petition on the website Change.org garnered more than 10,000 signatures . `` We are begging Jylland 's Park Zoo to please begin a new trend by showing that there is a more compassionate alternative to surplus animals or animals deemed not fit to breed within your zoo , '' its author said . `` Allow Marius , the giraffe within your care , to live out his days at a sanctuary or wildlife park . Please , do not kill another animal when there are so many other options . '' Dead giraffe fed to lions . The decision by Copenhagen Zoo to shoot its male giraffe named Marius to prevent inbreeding sparked wide fury . Staff at the zoo received death threats as debate raged online over the killing , which took place despite another petition signed by thousands of animal lovers . Bengt Holst , scientific director at the Copenhagen Zoo , told CNN the decision was made for the greater good of the giraffe population . `` Our giraffes are part of an international breeding program , which has a purpose of ensuring a sound and healthy population of giraffes , '' he said . Copenhagen Zoo 's Marius was shot by a veterinarian as he leaned down to munch on rye bread , a favorite snack . After a necropsy , the giraffe was dismembered in front of an audience that included children and fed to the zoo 's lions , tigers and leopards .
Jyllands Park Zoo says there 's no plan to kill one of its male giraffes , named Marius . There is no plan to send a female giraffe to the zoo for a breeding plan , the zoo says . A petition set up to save the Central Park Zoo giraffe has more than 10,000 signatures . Last weekend Copenhagen Zoo killed a giraffe , also named Marius , to prevent in - breeding .