Trail to Table: How the Atlanta Beltline is feeding Zoo Atlanta’s animals

Elephants at Zoo Atlanta are locavores just like the rest of us. They may originate from Africa, but the trees in their diet come from just a few miles away thanks to a new partnership with the Atlanta Beltline .

As the Beltline prepares to open segments 2 and 3 of the Southside Trail —running 1.9 miles from west of I-75/85 to Boulevard—workers have been clearing trees and shrubs to pave future paths. Instead of just turning these plants into woodchips, they’ve been given a second life as food for animals at Zoo Atlanta. Known as browse, these fresh branches and leaves nourish animals across the zoo, from goats to giraffes.

The project was a no-brainer for the Beltline to participate in. “Collaborating with the zoo this way helps us achieve our goal of sustainability,” says Kevi