Vienna, Austria - August 11, 2025 On the eve of World Elephant Day, the elephants at Schönbrunn Zoo received an extra-large truckload of fresh branches from the nearby Vienna Woods. The weekly delivery from the Austrian Federal Forests includes branches and twigs from native trees such as beech, oak, willow, birch, and maple, along with shrubs gathered through sustainable forest management. “Elephants are the largest and heaviest land mammals. Because they are also very poor feed converters, they have to eat a lot. In the wild, elephants spend almost the entire day searching for and consuming food, thus ensuring natural regeneration. Meeting this high food demand is a major challenge for us, and we are pleased about the cooperation with the Austrian Federal Forests,” said Zoo Director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. Zookeepers arrange the branches in creative ways, hanging them above the ground or placing them in sand dunes to provide both food and entertainment for the herd. World Elephant Day, marked on August 12, aims to raise awareness of the serious threats elephants face in the wild. The zoo’s elephants serve as ambassadors for their species. On this occasion, Austrian Forestry Board member Andreas Gruber personally delivered the “green gift” to the herd alongside curator Dr. Folko Balfanz. “We manage our forests with sustainability in mind and at the same time promote biodiversity – not only in the forest, but also beyond. We are very pleased that our trees here serve as food and entertainment. It is a wonderful example of how nature-oriented forest management and good animal husbandry go hand in hand,” said Gruber. The weekly greenery also benefits other animals at Schönbrunn Zoo, including giraffes, rhinos, red colobus monkeys, domestic water buffalo, and reindeer.