O Christmas Tree

Few zoo holiday traditions are more enduring than the Halloween pumpkin smash.  In the build up to Halloween, many of the orange gourds are sacrificed to bears, hippos, elephants, and a host of other animals to demolish, either in search of tasty treats stuffed inside or just for the joy of smashing.  In the aftermath of the holiday, when the local demand for pumpkins is diminished, there are usually plenty of them to be had as donations, either from the public or from local stores. 

Perhaps you have donated one yourself.

If so, you might be interested in the Yuletide version of the pumpkin smash.

Many zoos will happily accept your offer of donated (real, cut) Christmas trees after the holiday.  They will need to be clear of hooks, ornaments, and chemicals, of course, but if they are, they can be a source of great pleasure for many animals.  Some, such as elephants, may actually eat them.  For others, they can be a place to hide treats in, shelters to crawl though, and olfactory wonderlands.  They also have great potential for nesting and bedding.  The favorite bear that I ever worked with was actually born in the ruins of what had once been a perfectly respectable tree.

It may surprise you, but a cut, real tree is far better for the environment than a fake one.  An artificial tree (made of oil and plastic) is only used for a few years on average, before it goes to languish in a landfill, virtually forever.  A cut one may only be used once, but it is a renewable resource, and when it is used up, it can be composted... or upcycled, getting a second (albeit also brief) reincarnation as some lucky zoo animal's favorite seasonal toy.


Asian elephants at the Berlin Zoo eating leftover Christmas trees (Washington Post)