Bubble mania for Plastic Free July at Melbourne Zoo
Bubbles can be very entertaining, and Melbourne Zoo’s animals are getting in on the fun too!
Penguins, Elephants, Kangaroos, Meerkats & Gibbons were among the variety of animals that vocalised with delight, jumped for joy and gathered together with glee as zookeepers blew bubbles to mark the start of Plastic Free July today.
The bubbly fun aims to raise awareness about Zoos Victoria’s conservation program Bubbles not Balloons, which asks the public to replace outdoor balloons with wildlife-friendly alternatives.
Zoos Victoria’s Senior Manager of Conservation Campaigns, Ben Sanders, said many people are not aware about the link between releasing a balloon outdoors and the dangers it posed to wildlife.
“What goes up must come down, and research is telling us that balloons and their attachments are one of the top three most dangerous items to marine wildlife,” Mr Sanders said.
“We love balloons but when they're used outdoors, they can end up in waterways and oceans, harming precious wildlife.”
Mr Sanders said marine animals such as penguins, seals and pelicans, among many others, were the animals most at risk.
“These animals can accidentally eat balloons thinking they are food and can also become entangled in attached ribbons, often leading to fatal outcomes.
“So today we blew bubbles for a variety of animals at the zoo to generate awareness and to help spread this important message.”
Mr Sanders called on the public to make the promise to switch from outdoor balloons to bubbles.
“So far we’ve been really blown away, and have had nearly 170,000 people show their support. But we are encouraging everyone to get involved by heading to our Bubbles Not Balloons page to pledge their commitment.”
You can learn more about Bubbles not Balloons by clicking here.
Plastic Free July started as a grassroots movement in Western Australia eight years ago, and has grown into a global phenomenon that allows people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities.
Visitors can see the amazing animals at Melbourne Zoo and learn more about community conservation for wildlife from 9am-5pm, seven days a week.