San Diego Zoo Safari Park Launches Biofiltration Wetlands
Wetland habitat is both a water conservation and a learning tool
Hannah Martine
San Diego.com
04/08/2011
On April 6, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park unveiled a wetland habitat that will also serve as a learning environment and a biofiltration system, supplying the Safari Park with water that can be re-used.
The Biofiltration Wetland Creation and Education Project is the first phase of a $12 million water master plan, funded by grants from the Department of Water Resources and the Institute of Museum and Library Services of the County of San Diego. This is one of 20 projects the Safari Park planned for in 2007 to improve water quality.
The wetland habitat uses natural filtration to improve water quality. "Resource conservation is a big part of our work to preserve endangered species and their habitats," said Robert McClure, Director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, in a statement. "We have created this wetland area for the specific purpose of designing a tool which would allow us to filter out biological impurities so that water may be re-used at a higher level at the Safari Park."
The Safari Park has long been a supporter of conservation; in addition to the new wetland habitat, the park has implemented water recycling efforts and used native species and xeriscape landscaping.
