Commencement strawberries donated to Nashville Zoo and Walden’s Puddle

African elephants at the Nashville Zoo enjoy strawberries left over from Commencement.
African elephants at the Nashville Zoo enjoy strawberries left over from Commencement. (SEMO/Vanderbilt University)

Animals at the Nashville Zoo and Walden’s Puddle recently enjoyed a sweet treat, thanks to Vanderbilt’s Office of the Chancellor and Commencement Office.

A clouded leopard at the Nashville Zoo.
A clouded leopard at the Nashville Zoo. (SEMO/Vanderbilt University)

The university donated strawberries left over from the Strawberries and Champagne celebration at Commencement to the two Nashville organizations again this year. Since fresh produce cannot be re-served or re-packaged, the donation prevented the uneaten food from being sent to a landfill. Staff from Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office organized the donation and delivery after Commencement events concluded on May 8.

The Nashville Zoo shared the strawberries with their African elephants, clouded leopard, Galapagos tortoise, giant anteater, Sulcata tortoise and Tamandua anteater. The strawberries were enjoyed by raccoons and opossums at Walden’s Puddle, a wildlife rehabilitation and education facility that provides care and treatment to sick, injured and orphaned wildlife native to Tennessee.

See more photos here.

A raccoon at Walden's Puddle.
A raccoon at Walden's Puddle. (SEMO/Vanderbilt University)

For more information about recycling efforts at Vanderbilt or the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office, visit the SustainVU website, contact sustainvu@vanderbilt.edu or call (615) 322-9022.

Contact: Chelsea Hamilton
chelsea.l.hamilton@vanderbilt.edu