Bristol Airport Supports Local Zoo
Created: 7th Apr 2022Bristol Airport’s fire department recently worked with Bristol Zoo Gardens, to set up a recycling project with a difference by donating old and unwanted lengths of fire hose.
In time, firefighting hose can become damaged and worn and is then no longer suitable for its intended use. Rather than destroying old hoses, the fire department donate them to good causes where alternative uses can be found. For example, local zoos and animal sanctuaries can use the redundant equipment to create interesting surroundings for animals.
This year, metres of soft collapsible fire hose and metres of hard fixed hose have been donated to Bristol Zoo Gardens where it will be used to create various swings, hammocks and other climbing features within the primate section.
Chris Broome from Bristol Airport’s Fire Department said:
“We are delighted to support Bristol Zoo by contributing old, unwanted and damaged lengths of fire hose. It is great to see the equipment being put to such good use and being used to enrich the animal enclosures.”
Lynsey Bugg, Curator of Mammals at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said:
“We are very grateful for the donated hose which is used to make play and enrichment equipment a variety of animals across the Zoo. We’ll make hammocks for the larger primates, such as gorillas and spider monkeys, and use smaller lengths of hose to hide food for smaller primates to find. We can also hang up lengths of fire hose for our tamarins and squirrel monkeys to climb and hang from, so we’ll certainly put it to great use!”
Bristol Zoo Gardens and its sister site Wild Place Project are run by Bristol Zoological Society which is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of the public, not only to fund its important work at both zoos, but also its vital education and community outreach programme.
In March last year the Society launched the BZS Appeal to ensure the future of its work ‘saving wildlife together’ following the temporary closure of both its sites in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As school groups can now be welcomed back to both zoos, donations from the appeal fund will support the Education Bursary Fund, to ensure schools and youth groups in disadvantaged areas are able to benefit from visiting Bristol Zoo Gardens and Wild Place Project.
To find out more, or to make a donation, visit https://bristolzoo.org.uk/bzsappeal.