Marius (6 February 2012 – 9 February 2014) was a young male giraffe living at Copenhagen Zoo. Though healthy, he was considered genetically unsuitable for future breeding so it was decided by the zoo authorities to kill him. Despite several offers to adopt Marius, and an online petition to save him, he was put to death on 9 February 2014. His body was then dissected in public and parts were subsequently fed to other animals at the zoo. The event received worldwide media coverage and generated responses from several organisations and individuals, including death threats to staff at the zoo.