The Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe said on Thursday that the legally enshrined protection of animals is a "legitimate aim."

In this particular case, the protection of the welfare of animals from "unnatural sexual attacks" outweighed the plaintiffs' right to sexual self-determination, the court said.

Judges in the southwestern German city said the two people who brought the lawsuit - who claimed they "feel sexually attracted to animals" - had to "accept state measures that are in the overwhelming majority's interest."

"The complaint is unfounded," the constitutional court ruled.

Passed in 2013, Germany's animal protection law forbids any sex acts with animals or supplying animals to others for any variation of sexual intercourse. An infringement can result in fines of up to 25,000 euros ($27,800).

ksb/sms (AFP, dpa)