English zoo gives lions old Christmas trees for play

Old Christmas trees normally end up as sawdust when the season is over, but one English zoo has turned then into toys.

At the Linton Zoological Gardens, lions these days are rolling around with them.

For the big cats, the real Christmas trees are "like catnip," Linton zoo's director Kim Simmons told the BBC.

"We've already had quite a few trees coming in, which are giving the lions hours of fun," Simmons said.

Both households and nurseries have been donating the trees.

In addition to toys, the zoo said on its Facebook page some of the trees that still have roots are planted in a nearby woodland area, as well as aviaries. The rest are burned to help keep the zoo warm.