Copenhagen Zoo has put down four lions including two cubs to make way for a new male lion.

The animals were killed after no other homes could be found for them.

The zoo said its was all part of a project to make a new lion family unit.

Citing the “pride’s natural structure and behaviour,” the Copenhagen Zoo said that two old lions had been euthanised as part of a generational shift.

It said the cubs were also put down because they were not old enough to fend for themselves.

The same zoo was criticised recently for killing a healthy giraffe to prevent inbreeding.