Zoo chiefs to continue culls 'if necessary'

EDINBURGH Zoo bosses at the centre of a row over killing piglets have said they will continue the culling of endangered species, including rare chimpanzees, if they deem it necessary, it was reported today.

The News revealed on Wednesday that zoo officials had euthanised two African Red River Hogs because they were deemed "not genetically useful".

The killing of Sammi and Becca, who were born at the Capital zoo last year as part of a European breeding project aimed at boosting their species' dwindling numbers, has sparked outrage among animal rights campaigners.

A spokesman for the zoo was reported today as saying it "would not be able to rule out" the possibility of other culls, but insisted that "each individual case is considered in detail".

The culling of chimps is considered unlikely.

Ross Minett, campaign director of OneKind, said: "There are overtones of eugenics here and whether it's piglets or chimps, public rage won't go away."