The Emirates Zoo in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi, has succeeded in turning elephant waste into paper, where visitors can now buy very special paper made inside the park, using elephant manure.
Emirates Zoo is constantly seeking changes to improve the concepts of sustainability, including the conversion of all organic residues (human and animal) into reusable organic fertilizer. The Zooducators' team noted that the huge Indian elephants Madhu and Rada The most beloved animals in the zoo, in addition to their ability to eat and spray water, had another unique feature, intestines with a lot of fiber.Once the waste was collected, it could be converted, through a short treatment process, into a piece of paper that could be decorated or colored.
Elephants accommodate about 45% of their food
Because elephants only absorb about 45% of their food, their waste output is often high in fiber, making it very ideal for making paper.The first step is to wash manure, which is done about 14 times to make sure it is completely cleaned and sterilized. As soon as it dries, any unwanted residue is removed and mixed with recycled papers (newspapers, covers, and print sheets) to create a cohesive mixture that is poured onto a frame and pressed to dry water. Thanks to the UAE climate, the mixture is spread under hot sunlight to dry naturally. With 1 kg of elephant dung, the Emirates Zoo team can make 10 pieces of elephant waste paper.