Keeper Diary for 17.09.20

Written by Jack Williams, Manager of Lakeland Wildlife Oasis

I’m sure, like me, you were horrified by pictures of fouled-up South coast beaches this summer, or closer to home, litter strewn across many scenic spots in the Lake District.

These scenes and news stories make this Saturday’s ‘World Cleanup Day 2020’ even more relevant. An annual event, it’s an opportunity to join the global community in the biggest waste collection day in history.

2019’s day was a huge success, attracting over 20 million people across 179 countries on all continents. For the UK it was the biggest yet, but if you didn’t hear about it and the fact we have to hold it at all- shows there’s still some way to go.

Working so close to nature, litter and waste is something we’re very aware of at the zoo. Our native animals have a tough enough time with environment loss, pesticides, and climate change, but thoughtless litter kills literally millions more.

Cans, bottles, packaging, discarded fishing lines trap, suffocate, cut and poison wildlife.  A report published by Keep Britain Tidy revealed that litter kills an estimated 3.2m shrews, voles and mice every year.  Add to that fish, birds, insects, bats and butterflies, and it’s looking pretty devastating.

Perhaps we should take a tip from our insect population. They help keep the planet clean and unpolluted.

The impact of waste is something I’m always trying to reduce at the zoo.

Since reopening in July all our takeaway boxes and containers used in the café have been biodegradable or recyclable! Unfortunately however, even though the materials we use have the capability of being mulched/recycled, we have yet to find a company locally that is able to do it! We haven't given up though. We're working closely with our trustees and zoo professionals across the country to help come up with management solutions for the waste we produce here at the zoo!

We love hearing our visitors’ stories and ideas; they help us improve; and we can definitely do more. So let’s all have a great World Cleanup Day, and if you’re visiting, come and have a chat about channelling your inner insect!