Conservation at the Philadelphia Zoo

At the Philadelphia Zoo, every effort is made to preserve the quality of life for the animal residents. The Zoo operates itself based on several moral principles, including sustainability, conservation, and the UNLESS Project, which targets individual visitors and encourages them to observe their consumption of palm oil.

The conservation efforts include energy management, preventing waste water, and reducing solid waste. Energy is conserved as much as possible, as strict requirements are in place for the process of lights, kitchens, air conditioning and other electricity drains. Toilets, animal sanctuaries, water fountains, and sinks are all under careful monitoring. Every effort is taken to prevent leaks, spills, and unnecessary waste and consumption. The Zoo’s goal is to reduce 75% of solid waste consumption in 2018. Ally Fultmarks, a member of ZooCrew said, “As a team member here, we are incredibly conscious of how we use our resources. From the events we host to the days of activities, everything we do is with the animals in mind. We make every effort to help.”

The UNLESS program is an initiative developed by The Philadelphia Zoo to make patrons conscious of their consumption of palm oil. Palm oil is harvested from palm trees which are being cut down at rapid rates. Palm oil is in over half of the products most people consume everyday, including soap, food, and clothing. The attempt of the project is to save animals’ resources and homes.

The Zoo takes exceptional caution around the events it host. Formal galas are all held in the Small Mammal Building, where guests can view the animals and have dinner. Everything from centerpieces to silverware is biodegradable and can often be fed to the animals. Any meal scraps are composted or fed to the animals.

Conservation is a serious matter and the Zoo takes every effort to help.