Donate those tree trimmings

Have extra tree trimmings? The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is reaching out to our Middle Tennessee community for donated trees, branches, and trimmings as browse and enrichment for our elephant residents!

During the cooler months, when the elephants tend to stay closer to their heated barns, it’s essential to provide a variety of browse and enrichment. This not only offers necessary nutrients but also promotes mental stimulation through exploration. Browse typically

includes leaves, branches, and other vegetation that elephants naturally consume, while enrichment consists of items that engage their minds and encourage physical activity. A diverse selection of browse greatly enhances the elephants’ overall well-being by

fostering natural behaviors such as stripping leaves and chewing on branches.

In addition to our popular seasonal donations of pumpkins and Christmas trees, we are seeking various types of browse from November 2024 through March 2025, but welcome donations year-round.

Below is a list of common trees native to Tennessee that would make great donations for the elephants! (Viewers can also see the full list and guidelines at https://www.elephants.com/browse) Alnus (Alder), Ash, Bamboo (all species), Banana palm, Beech, Birch, Black gum, Boxelder, Bradford Pear, Blackberry, Cedar, Christmas Trees (Balsam fir, Concolor fir, Douglas fir, Frasier fir, Scotch pine), Cottonwood, Crab Apple, Crape Myrtle, Devils Walking Stick, Dogwood, Elm, Grapevine, Hackberry, Hickory, Honeysuckle, Hornbeam, Maple (Japanese, Silver, Sugar), Mimosa, Mulberry, Oak (all species - no acorns, Pecan, Persimmon, Pine (all species), Poplar. Redbud, Sourwood, Spruce, Sumac, Sugar cane, Sweet gum, Sycamore, Wild Privet (no berries), Willow

Donation Guidelines

Timing: Now accepting browse through March 2025, but donations are appreciated any time of year!

Condition: Please ensure items are cut within the last 2-3 weeks, and as fresh as possible. We ask that all items remain free from pesticides.

Size: Only limbs and small logs are accepted—no stumps or thick tree trunks.

Browse donations can be brought to The Sanctuary’s Elephant Discovery Center, located at 27 East Main Street, Hohenwald, where a designated drop-off location will be available behind the building next to the ‘re-tired’ elephant statue. Donors are invited to

visit the exhibits inside the Elephant Discovery Center, which is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

For large or heavy delivery arrangements, please contact Kristy, Browse Coordinator, at [email protected]

We are incredibly grateful to all those who have donated and to our community for their support! For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or call 931-796-6500. The elephant habitats are closed to the public. Visitors will not see or interact with the elephants.

Located on 3,060 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for Asian and African elephants. Founded in 1995, The Sanctuary has provided 34 elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being. The Sanctuary is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and has been dually recognized through accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The Elephant Sanctuary is currently home to 13 elephant residents.

To learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, please visit our website at

http://www.elephants.com. We welcome you to stay engaged and observe the elephants via our live-streaming EleCams at http://www.elephants.com/elecam, and connect with us via social media.