ANIMALS at Twycross Zoo are clamouring for your unwanted Christmas trees.

For most people, this week is the time to take down the festive decorations for another year, but zoo keepers are asking people who still indulge in the traditional 'real' Christmas trees to donate rather than discard.

"It's a form of recycling," explained Twycross Zoo spokesperson Kim Riley.

"Rather than just discarding the tree, we have great uses for them here at the zoo."

All of the primates and elephants love having the Christmas trees to play with. Keepers can hide fruit and other nibbles within the bark and the branches to give the animals a chance to forage as they would naturally.

"The male monkeys grab the branches and shake them very, very vigorously to show the females how strong they are," said Kim.

"We hang the trees upside down and the chimps especially like to swing as high as they can on them. They swing right up to the roof of the enclosure. It's great fun for them."

The appeal is a first for Twycross Zoo.

So from gorillas to capuchins, chimps to apes, all the primates want the seasonal trees which would otherwise be destined for the dump.

After the zoo's residents have finished with the trees, staff can then have them appropriately recycled.

* Tamworth Herald, January 8, 2009, edition.