Christmas trees for the moose in Langenberg

An adult moose eats around six Christmas trees a day. The animals particularly love the nutrient-rich plant parts such as twigs, buds and needles. Moose are true foraging specialists who select their food very carefully. "In spring, summer and fall, moose eat willows. In winter, they switch to conifers," says Urs von Riedmatten, Head of Animal Operations at Zurich Langenberg Wilderness Park. "The unsold Christmas trees are therefore a real delicacy for our animals every year."

Used Christmas trees cannot be fed to the animals

Hundreds of Christmas trees are piled up in front of the operations building at Zurich Langenberg Wilderness Park every year after December 24 - turning the end of the year into a feast for the park's large herbivores. The five moose are particularly happy about the prickly presents. But wild horses, deer and bison are also allowed to nibble on the little fir trees that we humans spurn. The unsold Christmas trees are collected from all over the region - from local nurseries and traders. These usually last for almost the entire winter. Used trees cannot be fed. Tinsel and wax residues are harmful to the animals. And the effort involved in checking every single tree would be too great.

Further information

Judith Falusi
Head of Marketing
Tel. 044 722 55 26
judith.falusi@wildnispark.ch