TREEts for Trunks
T
hanks to one Davey R/C office, eight
hungry elephants at the Houston Zoo
receive truckloads of tree branches each week.
Texas's largest zoo is home to more than
6,000 animals and brings in approximately 1.8
million visitors each year. This impressive zoo
spans 55 acres and features a three-acre, one-of-
a-kind McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, housing
Houston's favorite elephants: Thai, Methai,
Shanti, Tess, Tucker, Tupelo, Baylor and the
new calf, Duncan.
With so many hungry elephants, the zoo
contacted Jack Swayze, district manager at
the South Houston R/C office, to meet with
zoo keepers about using leftover trimmed tree
branches for elephant food. He agreed and met
with the zoo keepers to review delivery logistics
and tree species elephants like best.
However, the meeting didn't end there.
Swayze got the rare opportunity to meet the
elephants he would later help feed.
"When first meeting the elephants, zoo
keepers had me breathe into their trunks, so
they knew I was there," Swayze says. "I was
fortunate; not many people get the chance to
meet the elephants."
Swayze says he has a list of 40-plus tree spe-
cies the elephants can forage, but because some
trees are toxic, the Davey crew has to be careful
when determining which branches to deliver.
"We try to deliver a load a week,"
Swayze says. "I do it as a good will because
it's neat to get the opportunity to contribute
to the elephants."
Swayze says the reason the zoo called Davey
in the first place is because zoo keepers started
to notice the elephants eating downed branches
after storms. According to the zoo keepers, the
branches help clean the elephants' teeth and
supply them extra carbs.
"The Houston Zoo is a world-class zoo,"
Swayze says. "We are happy to be their go-to
group when they need help."
Davey has delivered food to the Houston
Zoo elephants for the last few months and
will continue to do so in the future. This unique
relationship allows Davey to re-use materials
that would otherwise be thrown away for the
benefit of these majestic animals.
November/December 2015 | 21
Inset: Jack Swayze was surprised when
Houston Zoo keepers allowed him to meet
and greet a few of the zoo's eight elephants.
