What is lean, green and knows how to work a machine – the Adelaide Zoo horticulture team!
Today is Energy Efficiency Day, and Zoos SA is celebrating another wonderful addition to the line-up of initiatives helping us protect the environment.
“Sustainability is incredibly important to Zoos SA, from reducing our water consumption to implementing reusable signage and powering the zoo with over 300,000kW of solar energy produced each year by our 230kw solar panels,” said Horticulturist Ailee Cheney.
“Thanks to a Corporate partnership with Toro Australia, the horticulture team now has a complete suite of battery-operated vehicles, whipper snippers, blowers and tools.
“The new Toro Australia equipment has helped the team be more sustainable, reducing their carbon footprint and saving around 77 litres of petrol every week.
“We have a wide variety of jobs day to day that mean we need to zip across the site from carrying browse to different animals to moving new planting to different areas of the zoo.
“The new vehicles and machinery have meant that we can do this sustainably leaving no carbon footprint and charging up using the solar power available at the zoo.
“As our equipment is battery-operated, it also has positive welfare benefits for the animals as there is less noise impact,” finished Ailee.
Adelaide Zoo also has a sustainability trail that visitors can take part in, simply click here to download the trail.
Providing tip-top care for our animals is our highest priority at Zoos SA and we do this using a science-based approach to animal welfare. This focuses on the Five Domains: environment, behaviour, nutrition, health and positive mental state.
This includes creating a peaceful and lush environment that reflects the natural habitat of the species that call the zoo home.
Once part of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, our horticultural team ensures that the animal habitats, gardens and grounds within Adelaide Zoo are meticulously maintained and ever-evolving.
There are many plants of heritage and cultural value that make up the unique botanical collection of the zoo. These include the Yacca (GrassTree –Xanthorrhoea sp), which is the oldest living organism in the zoo with an estimated age of around 600 years!
For more information about Adelaide Zoo and our commitment to sustainability, please visit adelaidezoo.com.au.
