Historic Zoo shares eco credentials of new Giants of the Galápagos exhibit ahead of Great Big Green Week
ZSL London Zoo has revealed some of the clever ways it puts nature at the heart of its decision-making, as it prepares to call on world leaders to do the same at COP26 in Glasgow this November.
As part of Great Big Green Week (18 - 26 September), international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) has shared some of the behind-the-scenes work being put in at its London Zoo HQ to achieve its own eco goals - to halve the historic Zoo’s carbon emissions by 2030 - while also encouraging people across the UK to take seven simple actions to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
“ZSL’s science and conservation supports wildlife across the globe, and at ZSL London Zoo it’s no different - we put nature at the heart of everything we do and are continually searching for ways to improve sustainability and reduce our impact on the environment,” explained ZSL London Zoo’s Chief Operating Officer Kathryn England. “For example, Giants of the Galápagos - a new home for our giant Galápagos tortoises Dolly, Polly and Priscilla opening in October - has been designed to minimise the amount of energy used for its heating, cooling and lighting."
ZSL London Zoo was the first attraction in the UK to eliminate single-use water bottles in its shops and catering outlets as part of its 2016 #OneLess campaign – instead, visitors are encouraged to use refill stations on site to top up reusable bottles.
Elsewhere, herbivore poo and bedding are collected daily to be composted on local farms, fresh herbs are grown on site for the animals to eat, and zookeepers even recycle old fire hose donated by local fire stations into enrichment for the animals - weaving the tough material into scratching posts and balls for the Sumatran tigers and Asiatic lions, or new swings for the primates.
The Zoo’s horticulture team also ensures patches of wildflowers grow undisturbed across the 36acre site, to provide space for native species to thrive.
Find out more about ZSL’s sustainability and to explore ways to reduce environmental impacts at home in our blog here.
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Posted On: 17/09/2021