- en
How did Nuremberg save Christmas trees from going to waste?
Some 150 Christmas trees have been donated to Nuremberg Zoo after the traditional Christmas market was canceled in this city amid the coronavirus pandemic. Goats, sheep, and even poultry enjoy snacking on pine trees and can help with recycling Christmas trees and preventing them from going to waste.
Mayor of Nuremberg Marcus König stated on social media: “Alpacas, bison, deer, tigers and some other animals of the Nuremberg Zoo are happy about a donation of 150 Christmas trees: the showmen and women of the Children’s Christmas gave the trees to the zoo at the end of November.”
Nuremberg is known throughout Europe for its traditional Christmas market, which has been passed down through the generations since the 1800s. The German state of Bavaria, in which Nuremberg is located, announced in November it would cancel all its world-famous Christmas markets due to the rising COVID-19 incidence rate. Following the disappointing news, this innovative German city has managed to do a good deed by donating the Christmas tree to its zoo which is also known to be one of the largest in Europe.
“Zebu, goats, sheep and alpacas have already nibbled on the freshly cut trees. In the coming days, the zoo team will distribute the remaining Christmas trees to other herbivores such as takins, bison, deer and many more. For them, the fresh greenery is a welcome change on the feeding schedule. Well then: Bon appétit!” mayor König said.
Nuremberg Zoo stretches on 67 hectares and features approximately 300 animal species. Founded in 1939, it is also considered one of Europe’s most beautifully landscaped zoos. The zoo’s mission is to educate the general public about the richness of nature while also trying to improve the plight of endangered species. The animals’ living conditions are designed to give them as much freedom as possible, therefore many of the enclosures are not enclosed by massive fences.
Until this year, the used Christmas trees were traditionally donated to the visitors of Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt at the end of each holiday season.
Photo credit: Instagram/Marcus Koenig
