Cleared bamboo repurposed at Melbourne Zoo

The University of Melbourne Grounds team and New Student Precinct building contractors, Kane Constructions, have collaborated with Melbourne Zoo to repurpose large amounts of plants removed from campus for animal feed.

The collaborative relationship was established in March with two truckloads of bamboo cleared for the New Student Precinct at Parkville campus delivered to the Zoo’s elephant exhibit.

The Zoo must scrutinise all potential animal feed before providing for exotic animal consumption, and the University’s high horticultural standards make for quality material that is healthy, disease-free and absent of foreign objects.

Fresh plant material is not always readily available, so the initiative is a win for both organisations.

“We delivered the bamboo to the delight of the elephants who instantly enjoyed it,” Reported Tim Uebergang, the Horticultural Curator of the University’s System Garden.

Green waste from the University is normally transferred to a recycling plant off-site to be turned into mulch or compost. Now, plant material removed for garden or building projects on campus that would otherwise become green waste, will be used as animal feed where the plant species is suitable.

“This new collaboration initiative is one that we should expect to develop long into the future.”

Image courtesy of Zoos Victoria. Bamboo pictured was not sourced from the University.

For more information on Melbourne Zoo visit Zoos Victoria.