The Delaware Valley might be getting some rain this week, but its
drought continues. While concerned residents have stopped watering
lawns and washing cars, local elephants and polar bears have not been
as receptive to voluntary water use restrictions. WHYY's Rachel Buchman
reports on the Philadelphia
Zoo's efforts to conserve.
The Zoo and the Drought Zoo animals aren't the most understanding creatures around
when it comes to conserving water.
September 26, 2002
Fortunately, a 15 foot moat separates the African Lion from zoo visitors
.. but that moat takes 150 gallons of water to fill. The zoo's 1,600
animals also require water to drink and swim in .. while zookeepers
use water to clean cages and wet down dusty areas. Still, Vice President
of Animal Programs Andy Baker says the zoo wants to conserve.
By this winter the zoo hopes to recycle the water in all it's fountains
and pools, like the one the penguins are swimming in. But Baker says
the zoo's not just for the birds.
"We really see our role as not only focusing on conservation
in exotic places but serving as a model here at home. So we do see
water conservation as a critical issue and I think the drought this
summer has really brought that into focus.
"Most of the water we use for the animals is not discretionary.
We’re sort of limited short term in how many changes we can make.
Most of our focus has really been on the long term, trying to reduce
usage in the some of the water features by making them recirculating."
"In addition to being a zoological collection we’re a horticultural
collection."
Groundskeepers have cut down on watering and switched from sprinklers
to drip irrigation. Some areas have no grass left and some exotic
trees have died ... with zoo officials predicting more trees may die
by this winter. More information's available on the web at GreenWorks.tv.
I'm Rachel Buchman.
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The Environmental Reporter is a partnership of GreenWorks.tv and WHYY
Radio, which makes all reports available to public radio stations throughout
Pennsylvania.
