Conservation
Environmental sustainability at Auckland Zoo
For all enquiries on Auckland Zoo's sustainability and environmental issues, contact our Conservation Officer, Peter Fraser, here.
Here at Auckland Zoo we take our environmental responsibility extremely seriously. Zoos aim to contribute to the conservation of biological diversity, but this aim is undermined if we work in ways that deplete natural resources or pollute our environment. Auckland Zoo has made environmental leaps and bounds since first setting goals in 2001 to reduce our footprint. Click on the headings below for a snapshot of how Auckland Zoo is looking after our precious planet.
Click here to download Auckland Zoo's environmental policy (PDF)
Waste
Zoo's not only produce a lot of waste (from day to
day operations and the waste our visitors produce), but also waste
of a 'special' nature. Most composting centres for example will not
accept the significant amounts of bamboo our animals chew through,
bedding material that has come into contact with primates or flax
from our gardens. Auckland Zoo has therefore had to come up with
some creative solutions to deal with our unique waste stream.
Water
Zoos require huge amounts of water. Burma (our
Asian elephant) requires 100-200 litres of drinking water per day!
Water is an important component of behavioural enrichment for our
animals, and cleaning of their enclosures. A stream runs through
Auckland Zoo's grounds and empties into the Waitemata Harbour, so
it is extremely important that we do not pollute it. We also have
over half a million visitors a year who require the use of
facilities such as toilets and drinking taps. It is therefore
crucial that we use water as efficiently as possible to reduce
pressure on a limited resource, reduce our vulnerability in times
of drought and avoid significant costs that continue to rise.
Click here to
read what we do.
Office
Like any business, Auckland Zoo needs to carry out
the office side of our operations in a way that is environmentally
responsible.
Click here to find out what we are doing.
Horticulture
A huge
portion of Auckland Zoo's physical footprint is comprised of those
other living things - plants. Greenery is a key element of our
animal enclosures and our visitor's experience. Our specialised
horticulture team provide the naturalistic landscape in exhibits,
highlighting the interdependence between animals and plants and
enabling animals to engage in natural behaviours such as foraging,
browsing and nest building.
Click here
for more information.
Buildings
Buildings have the potential to alter the
environment significantly. Worldwide, buildings consume 25% of
virgin wood, account for 40% of energy use and 16% of water used
annually. Badly built structures can also suffer from "sick
building syndrome", exposing workers to unhealthy environmental
conditions. Auckland Zoo aims to reduce these impacts through
better planning, design, construction and operation of our new
buildings.
Click here
for examples.
Energy
Without
electricity, Auckland Zoo simply could not function. Our sea lions
need their 'seawater' to be kept at a frigid temperature and must
be constantly filtered. Our native frogs need a cool, moist
environment created for them. Imagine the energy required to warm
zebra, giraffe, rhino, elephants, reptiles, birds, lions and
primates on cold winter nights. Energy use has associated
environmental impacts - namely water use and climate change. Energy
prices also continue to increase steadily. So what does Auckland
Zoo do to keep our energy use as efficient as possible?
Click here to
find out.
Green Team
The Green Team is a group of staff from all sections who meet monthly to discuss issues of sustainability here at the Zoo. The group identifies priority issues to tackle, research green options, conducts audits and implements the Zoo's environmental policy.
Environmental Management System
Auckland Zoo is ISO 14001 accredited. This is an international standard of an Environmental Management System (EMS), which commits the Zoo to legal compliance, pollution prevention and continued improvement in environmental management. Underlying our EMS is a robust environmental policy, which is committed to by all staff and contractors and is made available to the public via our website.
Sustainable Animal Acquisitions
It is important that zoos are not a drain on the remaining wild populations of threatened species. The world's more progressive zoos now work closely with each other to decide which species are held in which zoos, and how they are managed. Through this co-operative approach, zoos are able to reduce (and in most cases eliminate) the need to collect animals from the wild or to import animals into their region to supplement existing captive populations. The benefits of this approach include increased viability and sustainability of zoo populations, and more opportunities to actively contribute to conserving wildlife.
