Bunny
(IN PHOTO) A rare two-year old "coral sun glow" pet snake of a member of the Philippine Snake Society crawls near a rabbit, kept as snake food, on the eve of Lunar New Year celebration at a park in a posh village in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila February 9, 2013. The Philippine Snake Society consists of Filipino snake owners who gather to share information about rearing snakes as pets. The Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 this year and marks the start of the Year of the Snake. Reuters

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, seeks the filing of animal cruelty charges against Asger Juhl, a Danish radio disc jockey with Radio4syv. Juhl killed a bunny on air on Sunday while moderating a debate on animal welfare.

The Guardian reports that Juhl hit the 9-week-old rabbit, named Alan, thrice on the head with a bicycle pump. The DJ said he did it to show how hypocritical are people and groups that campaign for animal rights but still eat meat purchased from supermarkets. After the broadcast, Juhl brought the dead baby rabbit, which twitched several times before it died, and together with his two children, skinned it and made a bunny rag.

PETA as well as Juhl’s regular listeners said he did not have to kill the bunny to drive home his point. Stan Kosjaks accused the DJ of killing Alan to only boost his show’s ratings. Kosjaks proposed, “Maybe, somebody should hit you on the head with a f***ing pump, see if that provokes a debate,” quotes The Guardian.

Simon Edward sought a reprimand on Juhl, stating, “Few things rile me more than people abusing animals with lame justifications.” PETA Director Mimi Beckhechi described the DJ’s behaviour as sickening.

In his defence, Juhl said many Danes expressed frustration over what he did while “at the same time they are having meat for dinner,” quotes BBC. He adds, “They are not taking into account that you are supposed to kill an animal before you eat meat … Why should it be wrong to kill an animal and then eat it.”

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