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 2025 through March 2026, but welcome donations year-round.
Please ensure items are cut within the last two weeks, and as fresh as possible. We ask that all items remain free from pesticides. Only limbs and small logs are accepted—no stumps or thick tree trunks. For a list of approved browse types, visit elephants.com/browse.
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
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The elephant habitats are closed to the public. Visitors to The Discovery Center will not see or interact with the elephants.
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