A German idea of using animal dung to generate electricity is not about to be adopted in New Zealand where zookeepers say they will stick to using it to make fertiliser and compost.
Muenchner Tierpark Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich has installed a biogas plant to be fuelled by
manure from elephants, rhinos, buffalos and antelopes, and any left-over animal food.
Auckland Zoo spokeswoman Jane Healy said generating electricity from animal manure was a good idea but it hadn't been canvassed there.
"Good on them for doing something that's hopefully going to help the environment," she said.
"Zoo Doo" fertiliser was produced at Auckland Zoo from the dung of giraffes, rhinos, hippos, zebras, springboks and the zoo's two elephants.
"Our elephants alone produce up to 70kg of poo a day each, so that's quite a bit a week."
Ms Healy said other organic material that could be broken down went to the zoo's worm farm and some other dung -- from the big cats -- had to be dumped.
Wellington Zoo spokeswoman Amy Hughes said the zoo was about to install a new composting machine which would be able to compost all the zoo's organic waste.
"It heats everything up to a really high heat so it can break down anything essentially," Ms Hughes said.
"But we haven't moved on to generating power yet -- it does sound like a good idea so maybe we'll look at that in the future."
The new composter would allow manure from omnivores and carnivores to be broken down, whereas previously only the herbivore dung could be used for fertiliser.
The compost would be used around the zoo and also sold or given to "Zoo Doo".
- NZPA
