Federal Forests Deliver Green Gift for World Elephant Day at Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn

"Elephants are the largest and heaviest land mammals. Since they are also very poor at digesting food, they need to eat a lot. In the wild, elephants spend almost the entire day searching for and consuming food, thus promoting natural rejuvenation. For us, it is a great challenge to meet this high food demand, and we are grateful for the cooperation with the Austrian Federal Forests," said the director of Vienna's Schönbrunn Zoo, Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. Whether placed high up or stuck into sandy hills: The care team shows creativity so that the branches serve not only as food but also as enrichment for the elephants.

World Elephant Day Raises Awareness of the Threat to Animals in the Wild

World Elephant Day on August 12 aims to highlight the serious threat to elephants in the wild. In the zoo, elephants play an important role as ambassadors. The "green gift" for this significant occasion was personally presented to the elephant herd by ÖBf board member DI Andreas Gruber. Together with curator Dr. Folko Balfanz, he ensured that the greenery not only tastes good but also provides enrichment. This impressive handover symbolizes the close partnership between the zoo and the Federal Forests.

"We manage our forests sustainably and at the same time promote biodiversity – not only in the forest but also beyond. We are very pleased that our wood serves as food and enrichment here. It is a beautiful example of how nature-oriented forest management and good animal husbandry go hand in hand," explains Gruber. In addition to the elephants, many other animal species at Schönbrunn Zoo, such as giraffes, rhinos, colobus monkeys, domestic water buffalo, and reindeer, benefit from the weekly delivery.

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