The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) this afternoon protested against the visit of Bengt Holst, the controversial Scientific Director of Copenhagen Zoo, to Zoo Soc this evening, calling on Trinity to cancel the event.
Holst made international headlines in 2014, following the killing and public dissecting of a young giraffe, Marius, in Copenhagen Zoo.
Marius, though healthy, was considered genetically unsuitable for future breeding, and was culled after a decision by the zoo’s authorities. The event generated international headlines as the body was publicly dissected in front of an audience of adults and children and fed to other animals in the zoo. Speaking to Danish TV2 at the time, Holst stated: “The many reactions don’t change our attitude to what we do. It’s very important to us that we take responsibility throughout. We need to have as healthy a stock as possible so we avoid inbreeding.”
Speaking to The University Times at the protest, John Carmody, ARAN’s media relations coordinator, stated that Marius “could have been given a chance in life, other people stepped forward to help little Marius, but he’s dead now and we can only hope that some good comes from it, drawing attention to the fact that zoos very much put the ‘con’ in conversationalist”.
Holst, an advocate of the use the breed and cull system in zoos, is to to make the argument that this is the best system to use in zoos at this evening’s event. In a post on the event’s Facebook page, Zoo Soc states: “Zoo Soc would like to remind people that we do not endorse any position on the issue but are rather a neutral body facilitating this talk for the purpose of academic discussion and debate.”
The description on the event on the page also states: “It is sure to be an emotive and highly charged talk that will have you debating the issue by the end.”
Carmody stated: “We’re out here in a last-minute appeal to get Trinity College to see what we’re trying to say, and in any hope to cancel this evening’s presentation with Mr Holst, because he’s not welcomed by any animal lovers in this country.”
Speaking to The University Times via Facebook, Chairperson of Zoo Soc, Fionn Ó Marcaigh, stated: “a university society, we believe in the value of the free exchange of ideas, irrespective of whether one agrees or disagrees with them. The treatment of animals is a contentious issue, one which ZooSoc talks have dealt with before from a variety of perspectives. Before Bengt Holst, past speakers have included primatologist Jane Goodall, who spoke passionately about the treatment of chimpanzees in scientific research. ZooSoc aims to host such a variety of viewpoints and ideas in order to foster academic discussion.”
Three protesters stood on Grafton St, opposite Trinity’s Front Gate, from 2–3 pm today. The group also said that they emailed the College Press Office, as well as the University Philosophical Society (the Phil). The College Press Officer, Caoimhe Ní Lochlainn, told The University Times that the group had not made direct contact with the Press Office, however.
Carmody added: “More than anything, we hope it gives Mr Holst a chance to reflect on his actions, and I hope that he has a change of heart that animals don’t belong in cages, and they should be showing their true colours in the wild where nature intended.”
Bengt Holst could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.
