Stuttgart's Wilhelma Zoo is using surplus pine trees to feed its elephants and other herbivores after Christmas. The trees are "not much of a treat," but breaking them down is fun for the elephants, officials say.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Gollnow
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A zoo in the southern German city of Stuttgart is taking unused, leftover Christmas trees and to provide food, entertainment, and decoration to its animal residents. About 150 to 200 unused trees will be transported to the Wilhelma Zoo by the end of January.
"What we know about these trees is that no candles were lit on them and no tinsel was hanging from them," a spokesman for the zoo said.
Most of the animals usually chew bark off the trees and only eat a few of the pine needles. However, animals like donkeys, goats, and deer enjoy the trees, according to German mass-circulation daily Bild. Other animals, like elephants, are less thrilled.
"For the elephants, a pine tree is not much of a treat," according to the spokesman. However, they enjoy playing with the trees and breaking them down is a good "pastime" for the animals.
"Other animals, like big cats, find the scent exciting," he added.
Finally, the trees will also be used as decoration, for example inside the aviaries.
Read more:360-degree tour of Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich
The Wilhelma Zoo and other zoos across Germany have been using surplus trees for years. However, they will not take trees that have already been used by private citizens.
Living in an elephant's footsteps
Elephants are amazing animals - not only because of their trunk. Their feet are also unique. Numerous animals dwell in the water-filled footprints that elephants have left behind.
What would Africa be without its elephants? Obviously, one tourist attraction worse off. But the giant animals are also shaping the ecosystem and their environment.
Image: CC BY 2.0/Benh LIEU SONG
Big foot
Elephants weigh up to five metric tons. No wonder that these giants leave behind considerably deep and big footprints when walking through savannah and forest.
Depending on the kind of soil, elephant feet can leave prints up to half a metre (1.5 feet) deep. When filled with water they become small pools - a paradise for insects.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz/Viola Clausnitzer/
Headcount
Researchers of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society have thoroughly examined elephants' footprints in the Kibale Forest in Rwanda. They found 61 species including water bugs.
Image: picture-alliance/blickwinkel/A. Hartl
Enough space for offspring
Many animals use the pools to deposit their eggs; dragonflies and mosquitoes are just two examples. After only five days, the water-filled holes are teeming with larvae.
Image: picture-alliance/blickwinkel/F. Fox
My district
Fully grown dragonflies love their pools and even defend them against rivals. Such a nice home has to be protected, right?
Image: picture-alliance/blickwinkel/P. Schuetz
A dark side
Mosquitoes that hatch in the water pools are food for many other animals in the area, including birds. However, they also transmit diseases like malaria and Dengue.
