Moscow’s Unused Holiday Trees Become Zoo Animals’ Treat
After the winter holidays are over, the wishes have been made and presents have been given, what happens to Russia’s unused New Year’s trees? This year, they ended up at the Moscow Zoo.
Fir and pine trees that weren’t sold during the New Year holidays are now being used to enrich the animals’ living enclosures and diets, the Moscow Mayor’s Office website said.
The trees aren’t just a tasty treat for herbivores — they can be used as toys and claw-sharpeners by the zoo’s carnivorous creatures.
The zoo has already received 1,500 firs and pines since Jan. 1. “Our animals are very happy with these gifts,” Svetlana Akulova, the general director of the Moscow Zoo, said.
Fir and pine trees that weren’t sold during the New Year holidays are now being used to enrich the animals’ living enclosures and diets, the Moscow Mayor’s Office website said.
The trees aren’t just a tasty treat for herbivores — they can be used as toys and claw-sharpeners by the zoo’s carnivorous creatures.
The zoo has already received 1,500 firs and pines since Jan. 1. “Our animals are very happy with these gifts,” Svetlana Akulova, the general director of the Moscow Zoo, said.
The practice of donating unsold trees to the zoo helps reduce waste.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
Needles are a good supplement to many herbivores' diets, such as this brilliantly plumed bird.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
Unlike snow leopards, lions, Amur tigers, cougars and other predators that use the trees as claw sharpeners, panda bears just like to use them as snacks and toys.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
The Moscow Zoo has been accepting unsold New Year's trees for several years — and it's a practice that exists in many zoos worldwide.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
However, not all unsold trees are used. Only legal entities are allowed to donate them to the zoo.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
This restriction was introduced to protect animals from any plastic or glass fragments that might remain on trees that were used in houses.
Gavriil Grigorov / TASS
New Year’s trees have many functions — they can be used as food, claw sharpeners or as bedding for this lounging polar bear.
Gavriil Grigorov / TASS
It seems like the zoo's New Year celebrations weren't without more traditional treats.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
The main Russian holiday is celebrated by everyone in the country — some just do it later than others.
Sofia Sandurskaya / Moskva News Agency
