Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in North Somerset is giving old Christmas trees a second life as “enrichment” for its animals. Over the past five years, the zoo has collected around 15,000 trees, which provide sensory stimulation and playful experiences for residents like spectacled bears, rhinos, and elephants. The elephants, in particular, enjoy tossing the trees, foraging through them, and even munching on the branches.
Curator Chris Wilkinson highlighted the program’s success, noting the trees’ unique scent and textures as exciting novelties for the animals. The zoo’s habitat design even allows for standing the trees upright, creating forest-like environments for the elephants to explore. With growing community support, including a partnership with North Somerset Council, the initiative has become a beloved annual tradition.