Traditionally, old Christmas trees are removed from homes every year to mark the end of the Christmas season. Zoo and Tierpark Berlin have been practicing this custom from Sweden, Norway, and Finland in their own way for years—and it's very popular. After the Christmas holidays, the animals in the Zoo and Tierpark can look forward to a very special surprise: fir trees.
The coniferous trees serve as unusual play equipment for the animal inhabitants, requiring creativity. The unique shape, interesting smell, and tingling sensation on the tongue provide a sensory feast for the animals. Back scratchers, toothpicks, or massage brushes—elephants, bison, and others are truly enamored with this special activity. Of course, there's plenty of snacking involved—after all, fir isn't normally on the menu for the larger inhabitants. Engaging with this unusual greenery promotes both mental and physical health among the animals, stimulating their curiosity and providing mental enrichment. These Christmas trees are unsold and untreated. 'Unfortunately, we cannot accept private donations of Christmas trees,' explains Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr. Andreas Knieriem. 'We ensure the trees from our partners are of safe quality and therefore suitable for our animals. Animal welfare is always our top priority.
