- Title: Elephants at German zoo spurn belated Christmas gift
- Date: 28th December 2016
- Summary: KRONBERG, GERMANY (DECEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF OPEL ZOO IN FRANKFURT SUBURB OF KRONBERG VARIOUS OF ZOO KEEPERS CARRYING CHRISTMAS TREES TO ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE AS ZOO VISITORS WATCH MAN THROWING CARROT TO ELEPHANTS VARIOUS OF ELEPHANTS EATING CARROTS AND SPURNING CHRISTMAS TREES LYING IN ENCLOSURE CHILD THROWING CARROT TOWARDS ELEPHANT (SOUNDBITE) (German) OPEL ZOO'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MARTIN BECKER, SAYING: "Like' is relative. Once there is no more fresh grass all they get is dry hay. So when these unsold Christmas trees arrive on December 24 they jump on them from joy. It's just too bad that they don't really feel like eating them anymore, as you can see. (Christmas trees) will definitely never become their favourite dish." ELEPHANT TRAMPLING ON CHRISTMAS TREE TOP SHOT OF ELEPHANT VARIOUS OF GOATS EATING CHRISTMAS TREES
- Embargoed: 12th January 2017 13:51
- Keywords: Germany elephants zoo Christmas tree
- Location: KRONBERG, GERMANY
- City: KRONBERG, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ESPRO9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Elephants at a zoo outside Frankfurt were treated to a belated gift of unsold Christmas trees on Wednesday (December 28) and decided to spurn it, instead going for carrots.
The yearly tradition across German zoos regularly attracts additional visitors who this year left somewhat disappointed despite being handed carrots to feed to the animals instead.
The deputy director of Opel zoo in Kronberg, Martin Becker, had an explanation why the Christmas trees this year were not the hit the zoo had hoped it would be.
"Once there is no more fresh grass all they get is dry hay. So when these unsold Christmas trees arrive on December 24 they jump on them from joy. It's just too bad that they they don't really feel like eating them anymore."
Christmas trees "will definitely never become their favourite dish," Becker said.
Instead, a hoard of goats nearby appeared to be delighted about their gift, actively chewing away on thE unsold Christmas trees. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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