Temple Emanu-El donated eight massive red oak root balls Wednesday, Sept. 3, to the Dallas Zoo to enrich the lives of the five female elephants in the Giants of the Savanna exhibit.
The root balls, from 43-year-old red oak trees, were excavated from Temple’s campus as part of a $32 million building project that will provide new learning, social and worship spaces.

A local artist, Sean Springer, is working with Temple to preserve the wood from the trees for use in the new chapel, and knew that elephants love root balls. So, Temple connected with the Dallas Zoo and the root balls were delivered to the elephant habitat in the Wilds of the Savanna exhibit.

The root balls will be used as enrichment to stimulate the elephants’ natural behavior, according to Zoo specialists. “This will give our five ‘Golden Girls’ a chance to explore something new in their habitat and enhance their well-being,” said Karen Gibson, Dallas Zoo’s curator of elephants.
A group from the Early Childhood Education Center at Temple Emanu-El visited the Dallas Zoo last week to see elephants munch on root balls donated by Temple. Children, staff, parents and clergy watched in delight.
Submitted by Connie Dufner