Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1229682
1 8 COMMUNITY Liquid assets W We've made a promise to reduce our water consumption significantly by 2021 – and you can pledge this, too. WORDS Jo Stewart PHOTOGRAPHY Jo Howell Try it at home Plant drought-tolerant Australian natives such as bottlebrush, grevillea and banksia in your backyard for a colourful, low-maintenance garden that requires little water. They'll also attract native birds and animals. Keeping cool Water is an important resource for our animals and the zoo properties. We're committed to conserving it at every chance. • At home tip: Place a bird bath in a quiet spot in your backyard to attract an array of animals. To help smaller animals exit easily, place a rock in the bottom or a stick across the top. ith much of Australia currently experiencing extreme drought conditions, water is a precious asset not to be wasted. We all have an important role to play when it comes to conserving water, and Zoos Victoria is no exception. Conserving water is something we're serious about. That's why we're aiming to reduce water consumption by a further 10 per cent by June 2021. Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo are each contributing towards meeting this target in different ways – and you can see some of these as you walk around the zoos. Melbourne Zoo has its very own Water Recycling Plant that recycles water for use throughout the Zoo. An impressive 90 per cent of water from the grounds is collected, recycled and then dispersed for various uses, including filling the pools that the animals swim in. SUSTAINABILITY