Exhibit animals on the menu at Swiss zoo's eatery

LANGNAU AM ALBIS, Switzerland, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A Swiss zoo confirmed its restaurant has been serving meat from deer and boar killed at the park to control the population.

Martin Kilchenmann, a spokesman for the Langenberg wildlife park in Langnau am Albis, south of Zurich, confirmed to online newspaper Der Landbote the deer and boar on the menu at the zoo's restaurant were killed at the zoo.

Kilchenmann said the process was "very ecological" and helps to teach park visitors about the "natural cycle" of the animals.

He said 49 deer and 10 boar were shot in the park in 2012 and "recycled" for human consumption in the zoo's eatery. He said about 100 animals are born in the zoo each year and many are killed if new homes can't be found for the surplus population.

"The majority of our guests show goodwill and support our approach," the spokesman said.

Ruth Widmer, president of the local animal protection association, said she was "shocked" by the zoo's revelation and called on officials to seek methods of limiting births at the park.