After the holidays, head to the zoo!
Several animal parks in Île-de-France collect unsold fir trees every year for distribution to animals.
Among the species concerned, felines from the Thoiry zoo (Yvelines), addax antelopes, guinea baboons and capuchin monkeys from the Paris Zoological Park, more commonly known as the Vincennes zoo.
The aim of these coniferous distributions is to stimulate the animals by introducing unusual elements into their environment.
This practice, qualified as “environment enrichment” by animal keepers, modifies the behavior of furry and feathered residents.
"We can observe more curiosity and time devoted to the search for food among herbivores," reports the director of the Paris Zoological Park, Pierre-Yves Bureau.
There is also a stimulus at the olfactory level.
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Depending on the species, the reactions vary.
Carnivores, especially felines, play with trees as they do with prey.
“Hyenas are generally very reactive and seek to attribute the new element to themselves,” explains the Thoiry zoo.
Chinese panthers are curious and rub against them to deposit their scent.
As for herbivores, they search for food and discover new sensations.
“Addax antelopes rub their horns against the thorns of the fir tree,” reports Pierre-Yves Bureau.
Trees where there have been decorations are refused
After a few days, however, the firs lose their interest in animals.
“The trees are then crushed on site to produce organic restitution,” says the Thoiry zoo.
The coniferous trees distributed in this way come from unsold producers, to the tune of 30 per year in Thoiry and around 50 at the Vincennes zoo.
"This practice at this time of the year gives a second life to these trees", summarizes Pierre-Yves Bureau.
Thoiry Zoo (Yvelines).
Each year, Christmas trees are distributed to the felines.
Curious, they play with it as if it were prey.
DR
But there is no question for animal parks to recover the conifers that spent Christmas surrounded by garlands.
"We cannot recover the trees of individuals after Christmas because there would be risks of residues of toxic decorations for the animals", explains the zoo of Thoiry.
Throughout the year, similar practices are carried out for the welfare of the animals.
"We distribute trees after the holidays because we have the opportunity but we regularly practice enrichment, with branches from pruning, for example", underlines the framework of the Zoological Park of Paris.
