Marius: An Innocent Giraffe Slaughtered and Fed to the Lions Den...literally!

Twitter users have gone on a rampage this week after a shocking turn of events in Copenhagen, Denmark.

©Photograph: Keld Navntoft/AFP/Getty Images

Marius, just 18 months old was a perfectly healthy giraffe bred in Copenhagen zoo, but officials claimed he was unsuitable for breeding due to his common genes. Thus Copenhagen zoo decided the best option was to euthanise the giraffe in front of onlookers.

©Peter Hove Olesen/AP Photo

Marius was shot in the head and then cut open, with vets performing an autopsy before slicing up the carcus to feed to the lions. This horrifying sight was seen by groups of children; not exactly something you expect to witness when visiting a zoo.

Despite other zoos' offers of a new home and online petitions with over 20,000 signatures, the zoo's scientific director, Bengt Holst went ahead with their decision.

This news has caused outrage, with twitter users venting their opinionhttps://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1531719641132117039#editor/target=post;postID=3254003062049926188s:

Julie Parry tweeted:

"Why would you take your kids to watch this? Why would you watch this? Shame on you!!! Show some respect! #Marius"

Moira Wilson tweeted:

"Barbaric - dreadful enough murdering a healthy giraffe - but inviting spectators to watch -vile #CopenhagenZoo"

After this sad event, animal rights groups have taken a stand, protesting outside the entrance of Copenhagen zoo. An online petition has also emerged, demanding the resignation of Bengt Holst with only 5,000 more signatures needed.

Meet the bosses of household: Squeak and Cosmo

It's about time to introduce you all to the two household pets we have here, Squeak and Cosmo, because you'll be seeing a lot more of them in the near future.
In the headline I called them the 'bosses of the household' because like all cats they think they rule the house, as I'm sure all you cat owners out there agree. Yet that's not the case, because we're the boss!

Squeak was the first to become part of the household. He is a 7-year-old male cat, his colour is known as

Squeak: too pretty to be a boy

champagne & white. He constantly gets mistaken for a female cat because he is so 'pretty' as our cattery lady says.

We took him in when he was around 6 months old. Originally he was very frantic as a kitten, running around, clawing everything in sight and chomping on your arm whenever he felt like it. The cat home we got him from was unsure of his background, but due to his wild-like behaviour we assumed he used to be a wild cat. Yet after time of love, hugs and care he eventually began to calm down and now loves nothing more than to sit on your lap (though he does still bite if you try and move him once he's comfy, he won't have any of that!)

Manor House Wildlife Park: Wallaby fun!

Rating: ★★★★★

We've all visited countless zoos in our lifetime and it's safe to say the majority of the time you feel the animals do not have large enough enclosures or you are left wishing you could be more intimate with the animals.
Sound familiar? Well you should visit Manor House Wildlife Park!

Manor House Wildlife Park, Tenby, West Wales, is owned by TV star Anna Ryder Richardson and her husband. You may have seen the park featured on TV in its own programme, Anna's Welsh Zoo.

Having recently visited the wildlife park myself, I can tell you I have never felt so sure that the animals are happy. Each enclosure gives the animals enough space to roam instead of being cooped up in small cages like most places. However, do not expect to see the wide range of animals that you would in a typical zoo. Wildlife parks are known to be smaller because they focus more on breeding and conservation, Manor House state on their website, 'Manor House is a conservation-led wildlife park. We take animal welfare very seriously, we house and protect a range of endangered animals.'
They do a load of great work to ensure all these endagered species do not go extinct, so why not visit the park and support their work?