Diary - Earth Hour Celebration

Earth Hour which was started in 2010, is held on the last Saturday of March every year which is fall on 31st March 2012. Basically the campaign aside from creating awareness is to switch off our lights for 60 minutes to show our support to use less energy and reduce the carbon footprint.

Zoo Negara has always been advocating the sustainable use of the earth resources. Some of the campaign that Zoo Negara is doing currently is

1) Rain water harvesting system

2) Using animal poo for organic fertilizers for our flora species

3) Tree planting campaign

4) Vermiculture to compose our waste and provide protein sources for our species

5) Reuse, reduce and recycle

6) Using herbal medication where possible

7) Minimize the use of Styrofoam for packaging

For Earth Hour 2012, Zoo Negara pledge three sessions of one hour each to switch off the use of air conditioning, computers and lights in some of our premises. This however do not include species that needs the electricity to safeguard their welfare and comfort for example our penguins which needs temperature maintained at 22 degree Celsius and off course our electrical fencing for safety reasons.

A booth at Leopard Hut was operated from 11.00 am until 4.00 pm, to get pledges from our visitors to commit 60 minutes of lights off at 830pm on that day. Beside posters exhibitions, we also put up an activity that create the earth hour awareness.

A survey was also conducted to raise and gauge the awareness of the visiting public to the Earth Hour activity organized annually since 2010. We also hope to spread the message which will inspire people to reduce their energy consumption at home daily and to do their bit for a sustainable planet.