Christmas trees as a feast for the moose
A nice present!
Conifers are essential for the survival of moose in winter. An adult animal eats four to six trees a day. Fortunately, numerous stores in the region donate their unsold Christmas trees to Langenberg Zoo.
Like their wild counterparts, the moose at Langenberg Zoo feed on conifers in winter. Their appetite is huge: an adult moose eats four to six trees a day. This is why the unsold Christmas trees that Langenberg Zoo receives after December 24 are very welcome.
"Traditionally, we receive most of the Christmas trees from Coop, with others supplied by Landi," explains Martin Kilchenmann, Head of Animals at Zurich Wildlife Park. Used Christmas trees from private households cannot be fed to the animals. Tinsel and wax residues would harm the animals. Checking every single tree is too time-consuming.
Moose have an interesting diet
Moose are gourmets and choose their food carefully: The ruminants particularly like the twigs, buds and needles of Christmas trees. These are the most nutritious parts of the plant. They are particularly fond of Nordmann firs because they are less prickly.
In summer, they eat the leaves of willow, ash, hazelnut and maple. But they also eat aquatic plants. For some underwater delicacies, the moose even dive up to six meters deep. No other animal in the deer family can dive. The moose can do this because they can close their nostrils.
