3 minute read
Our Solution to Problem Plants
In an impressive example of innovative sustainability, PenrithCity Council and the Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney have teamed up to collect both native plants and weed species to provide extra snacks for the zoo’s animals.
Since April 2020, Council’s Bushland Management Team has been donating suitable native and target weed species to SydneyZoo. Penrith Mayor and Sustainability Champion, Councillor Karen McKeown OAM, praised the project’s collaborative weed removal approach.
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Cr McKeown said.
The weeds provided include African Olive,Bamboo, Chinese Celtis and Willow.These weeds have been identified by the Bushland Management team as weeds that are a part of their weed removal program and are identified by the zoo as desirable food sources. Sydney Zoo are able to make use of the weeds thanks to a permit they attained under the Biosecurity Act.
PRIORITY WEEDS
Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, a “priority weed” is a plant that has been assessed to cause severe economic loss to agriculture and significantly impact the natural and recreational environments. Removing priority weeds is an important step in increasing the health of the sensitive vegetation communities within our LGA. The weeds identified by Council for donation to the zoo are based on supporting the natural environment of the Penrith local area.
To date, Penrith City Council has provided the zoo with over 30 tonnes of plant material, which has been happily devoured by elephants, giraffes, red pandas, camels, and zebras. The health and safety of these beautiful creatures is a priority, with all plants carefully selected to ensure they are disease and pesticide free.
Weeds from Penrith City on route to the Sydney Zoo
Sydney Zoo’s ungulate keeper, Jason Buttigieg, praised the partnership with Council, saying the plants are a welcome addition to the animals’ diets.
Never heard of an ungulate?
Given the pandemic and its resulting restrictions, the animals have been missing the excitement of regular visitors to the zoo. The tasty treats provided by Council have delivered a welcome distraction in these difficult times.
Ungulates (pronounced UNG-gyə-layts) are animals with hooves. Meaning an “ungulate keeper” looks after animals with hooves, many of whom are loving the plant materials donated by Council.
The Sydney Zoo partnership is the first of its kind, driven by a strong focus on sustainability. Penrith’s Bushland team continually looks for ways to reduce waste, rather than leaving the bare skeleton of a treated willow tree behind or taking it to landfill, staff now cut the tree down to be used to feed the zoo animals.
Council's Bushland team hard at work collecting plant materials for the zoo
The 'zero waste' approach is carried forward by the zoo who give foliage to animals like the zebras, giraffes, and camels. Once these animals have enjoyed a tasty snack the bare trunks and branches are passed on to the elephants who love playing with, and eventually devouring, entire trunks.
Credit: Sydney Zoo
If you’re looking for ways to do your part and actively protect Penrith’s natural beauty, find out about Bushcare by visiting penrith.city/bushland. Bushcare is all about community volunteers working with Council to conserve and rehabilitate publicly owned natural bushland. There are over 200 volunteers who work at over 11 different sites throughout Penrith protecting the important Cumberland Plain Woodland. If you’re interested in joining a Bushcare group, it’s easy and free.
This initiative has the potential to be even bigger, with some Penrith residents also involved in donating plants to Sydney Zoo from their own properties. To find out more about the weeds program with Sydney Zoo, subscribe to the Bushcare Bulletin at penrith.city/bushcarebulletin
