Tree Donation Brings Holiday Cheer (And Snacks) To The Phoenix Zoo
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Every year, Jayne Mitchell can’t even keep track of how many trees pass through the Christmas tree lot started by her parents in 1950.
There's silver-tipped fir, white fir, noble fir, Nordmann fir, Fraser fir and more. Some are knee-height and many more tower over Mitchell.
The trees from Tim Mitchell's Christmas Tree Lot end up in Valley living rooms, framing church stages, at swanky parties and at the Phoenix Zoo.
The Mitchell family donated almost 50 trees to the zoo this year.
In the orangutan exhibit, Kasih hangs from a rope to pluck popcorn from the top branches of a tree decorated with snacks.
“We need them to stay active like they would in the wild," primate manager Mary Yoder said. "We don’t want them to get bored.”
The donated trees are part of the animal's enrichment program. Usually they get trimmings from the zoo grounds, called browse, but the holidays offer a special opportunity.
"The browse that we collect varies from being supplement to diet to something that hoof-stock type animal might spar with," said Scott Frische, the zoo's curator of horticulture.
Asian elephant Indu swings her trunk toward a Douglas fir decked with kettle corn, honey, greens and a pear where an angel or star would go. When she's done with the treats, she'll go after the tree's needles and bark, her keepers said.
"I think it’s as equally fun for the keepers as it is for the animals," Yoder said.
As for the Mitchells, providing holiday cheer to the animals of the zoo is part of their family tradition.
“We’re from Arizona, and we like to take care of our fellow Arizonans,” Jayne Mitchell said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Fraser fir.
How do you decorate a tree for an elephant? With greens and kettle corn stuck on with honey.
(Photo by Mariana Dale - KJZZ)
And don't forget the pear topper! Zookeeper Corey Barr puts on the finishing touch.
(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)
Indu the elephant hunts for popcorn snacks. Later, her keepers say, she'll peel the bark from the tree.
(Photo by Mariana Dale - KJZZ)
At 51-years-old, Indu is the oldest elephantant at the zoo and the only one who enjoys eating the tree her keepers say.
(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)
The orangutan's breakfast is hidden inside festive boxes for the holiday. Every day the animals must work for their food in a different way as part of the zoo's enrichment program.
(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)
“They’ll probably want to take it themselves and not share," primate manager Mary Yoder said. "Right now, they’re being really nice to each other.”
(Photo by Mariana Dale - KJZZ)
Kasih and Daniel are both 10 years old. “We need them to stay active like they would in the wild, Yoder said. "We don’t want them to get bored.”
(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)
