Copenhagen Zoo is defending its decision to carry out an autopsy on a giraffe in front of a group of children and their parents.

The decision to destroy 18-month-old Marius sparked an online petition with thousands of signatures from around the world. Those who signed were calling for management there to change their minds.

However despite a number of re-homing offers, the zoo felt it had no choice but to put Marius down to avoid in-breeding.

There's been further controversy in the aftermath of his death after pictures emerged showing his carcass being cut up in front of children.

Bengt Holst is the zoo's scientific director - he told Newstalk's Pat Kenny the uproar caused by the killing and dissection shows how far away from nature we have come: