Residents of Berlin Zoo in Berlin, Germany, recently gathered for an annual feast that included an all-you-can-eat buffet of Christmas trees.
Berlin Zoo shared a clip on their social media showing deer, elephant, and European bison being presented with their own batches of Christmas trees. Some residents decided to first have some fun with them, while others immediately began snacking.
“Whether as a back scratcher, toothpick, or massage brush – the creativity of the animals knows no bounds. The shape, the smell, and the tingling sensation on the tongue provide fun and entertainment,“ Berlin Zoo wrote in the caption. “Of course, indulging in a feast was also allowed – after all, pine trees are not typically on the menu for our animal residents.”
According to the Berlin Zoo, the Christmas tree feast became an annual tradition.
Each year, the zoo receives unsold Christmas trees from several vendors. They only get fresh trees that didn’t find their home before the holidays. Tree donations from other sources or the public are rejected due to safety concerns.
Pine trees are a great source of food in the wild. Squirrels snack on their seed, deer, and bears eat their bark, and woodpeckers search for larvae in their wood.
