DZG’s climate change pledge
DZG is helping pull the plug on the threats of climate change to animals by pledging to turn down central heating systems across the site by one degree and Trainee Keeper, Harley Hunt, altered the first thermostat this morning down in Monkey Tails.
We’re supporting the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) Pole to Pole Creatures in Crisis campaign by inviting visitors to join us in finding out how we can all make a real difference to global warming by making small changes in our day-to-day behaviour.
Senior Curator, Derek Grove, said: “Climate change doesn’t just affect polar species; it is wreaking havoc for all animals across the globe in one way or another and it’s by making simple changes in our everyday lives that can help lower our carbon footprint and contribute to saving the lives of animals worldwide.
“Over the last 100 years the temperature of the globe has risen by one degree, so here at DZG we’re pledging to turn down some of our central heating systems, by one degree, which will not only lower our global footprint but will also save us around £6,000 in heating bills this winter.
“We can’t turn down all the animal heating systems, as many of our rare and endangered species have to be kept at constant temperatures, such as the giraffes and reptiles, and we use energy efficient heating and insulation in many of the dens of the others, including the great apes, tigers, tapirs, birds, wallabies, primates and meerkats to make sure they stay warm over the colder months, but we will be turning down systems across the 40-acre site where we can.”
But it’s not just lowering the heating that can help pull the plug on global warming and during half term we’ll be promoting other simple changes including not leaving televisions on standby, turning off phone, laptop and tablet charges when the device is fully charged and unplugging microwaves when not in use, which can also all help secure the futures of animals across the globe.
Find out more about our Creatures in Crisis campaign by watching the daily Go Wild! Shows at 11.30am and 2.15pm where presenters will be reinforcing the Pull the Plug message and introducing a native species which is affected by climate change.
Make sure you visit the Discovery Centre as well where you can read all about the campaign on the display board, discover some of the DZG’s animals, whose wild cousins are affected by climate change and leave your own pledge to pull the plug on something on the climate change tree.
Derek added: “Join DZG in helping make a difference to the planet. It’s important to take responsibility for the way we live now as the greater the uptake, the greater the impact for our favourite species.”
We’re supporting the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) Pole to Pole Creatures in Crisis campaign by inviting visitors to join us in finding out how we can all make a real difference to global warming by making small changes in our day-to-day behaviour.
Senior Curator, Derek Grove, said: “Climate change doesn’t just affect polar species; it is wreaking havoc for all animals across the globe in one way or another and it’s by making simple changes in our everyday lives that can help lower our carbon footprint and contribute to saving the lives of animals worldwide.
