The Ishikawa Zoo in Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture has been actively taking eco-friendly measures based on its environmental action plan. Their mission is to contribute to reducing impacts on the environment and serve as a resource for environmental education.

The animals are kept in environments that closely resemble their own natural habitats. By using moats to enclose the animals and glass observation windows, visitors can get a closer look at the natural behavior of lively animals, which is impossible when the animals are in conventional small concrete cages with iron bars.

Rainwater collected in the zoo's reservoir is used for cleaning animal cages and lavatories and watering plants. Animal waste and leftovers are recycled as organic fertilizer at a composting plant.

The zoo conserves energy and reduces its CO2 emissions by using solar-powered clocks and electric cars. They also use permeable paving and blocks to allow rainwater to soak into the ground.

The zoo has planted fruit trees throughout the grounds and designed its reservoir with a view to creating a biotope (meaning "a place inhabited by living things" in German) to attract wildlife such as birds and insects.




Posted: 2004/04/12 04:10:43 PM
Japanese version

TAG Ecosystem , Energy , Food/Water , Local government , NGO/Citizen , Other