As many as 17 million minks are to be culled in Denmark after a mutated version of the coronavirus that can spread to humans was detected on mink farms.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the mutated virus posed a "risk to the effectiveness" of a future Covid-19 vaccine.
Denmark is the world's biggest producer of mink fur.
Police said the culling should happen as soon as possible.
Coronavirus cases have been detected in mink farms in Denmark's northern Jutland region, and