Oakdene Hollins Consultant Bethany feeding giraffes at her volunteering day at ZSL Whipsnade zoo

Last month, Consultant Bethany had the pleasure of volunteering at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Whipsnade Zoo where she helped to produce silage for feeding resident giraffes over winter. We chatted to her about the volunteering experience and why conservation is so important.

“Reticulated giraffes are classified as an endangered species so I was honored to help, even if it was just for a day, in their conservation efforts. As a ZSL fellow, for many years I have Whipsnade zoo and their conservation efforts have been held very close to my heart; I am forever grateful for the important work they do. “

Like many other species, reticulated giraffes are threatened from the likes of human activities. At Oakdene Hollins, we aspire to support companies in reducing their environmental impact by looking to sustainable and circular alternatives which do not rely on finite, greenhouse gas emission-producing materials and processes. It was interesting to hear from Bethany, about the impact humans are having on giraffes in the wild.

“As a sustainability and circular economy consultant, I was curious to understand whether giraffes were impacted by climate change, something that I am passionate about helping to avert. When asked, the zookeepers directed me to a very recently released study by the University of Zurich. This study, conducted over 20 year, and surveying nearly 2,400 giraffes marks one of the first of it’s kind. Studying giraffes isn’t easy as, they have long lives and long birth cycles. As a result, monitoring change in populations requires long-term studies by dedicated researchers, just like this study.

In short, the study has provided significant evidence that giraffes are impacted by climate change and will become increasingly impacted by it as it worsens. Whilst giraffes natural ability to cope with high temperatures may help them adapt to rising temperatures, weather unpredictability and severity would be a potential threat. For example, intensified rain as been linked to an increase in diseases and parasites which breed in damp conditions which impact both the giraffes and their vegetation. Other threats to giraffes which can also be linked to climate change include habitat loss, wildfires, ecosystem disruption and drought.”

At Oakdene Hollins, we firmly believe in the pressing need to mitigate climate emissions in order to safeguard vulnerable species, such as giraffes. As climate change accelerates, it poses an alarming threat to the delicate ecosystems that these majestic creatures call home. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to clean energy sources, and adopting sustainable practices, we can help mitigate the impacts of climate change and create a safer future for giraffes and other endangered species. Our research and consultancy services focus on providing practical solutions to businesses, driving sustainability and resilience to safeguard our natural world so that we can all thrive within planetary boundaries.

ZSL Whipsnade are helping to conserve giraffes, as well as other species in the fight against climate change. And, there is hope! Bethany tells us about one of the zoos latest giraffe arrivals, 9 month old Wilfred, pictured below.

Wilfred, a young reticulated giraffe at ZSL Whipsnade zoo

Not only are ZSL Whipsnade working hard to conserve species within the zoo and in the wild, but they are also working on their own sustainability efforts. Bethany tells us about ZSL’s efforts to reduce animal food waste.

“With so many animals to feed, with some reaching 14ft tall, the zoo goes through a lot of food. At my volunteering day, I was helping to prepare silage for the giraffes so that they could have leaves to eat in winter. This is a great, sustainable food source and here is why. My job was to take the leaves and small branches off of the larger tree branches and back them down into silage containers. These branches came from trees that were grown on-site at the zoo. The whole trees weren’t cut down, just some of the branches cut off or, they may have fallen down and been collected. The giraffes, will eat the leaves and strip the bark off of some of the smaller branches. The bigger branches that are leftover, will be given to the bison. This way, there is very little waste, and what is waste is natural and can be composted. “

At Oakdene Hollins, we are proud to offer our staff the opportunity to partake in volunteering activities. Bethany’s volunteering day is an example of how enriching it can be to support conservation efforts and what we can learn. We asked Bethany her final thoughts on the experience, she said

“Going to the zoo reminds me why I do what I do. That helping by helping to reduce emissions and transition towards a circular economy I am helping to make change, whether it is small, or even tall.”

Reflecting on staff experiences: Bethany's volunteering day at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo