A mayor in eastern
A spokeswoman for the mayor's office said deer were among
the animals killed and sold by workers at Erfurt Zoo
without permission over a number of years.
"The case is now with the state prosecutors," said
the spokeswoman, declining to give further details.
The German Animal Protection League demanded a review of
controls at the zoo and at all other institutions with animals in the state of
"We are worried this is only the tip of the
iceberg," said Wolfgang Apel, president of the
League, who also said the case raised serious questions about the zoo's
management.
Die Zeit newspaper quoted an
anonymous zoo employee as saying the number of animals had been declining and:
"It is high time something is done about it."
Erfurt Zoo, home to lions, elephants
and giraffes as well as horses, donkeys, sheep and goats, declined to comment.
Animal rights campaigners and federal authorities have
previously complained about the zoo's imports of wild elephants from
