Zoo Keepers Bamboo-zled by Large Donation for Pandas
Suffolk based property management company, Home from Home have undertaken a 250 mile round trip to donate large quantities of bamboo to the red pandas of Drusillas Park, East Sussex.
Development Manager, Stewart Scott and Property Manager, Ian Boots hired a van and travelled 3½ hours in the blazing heat to ensure the pandas received a fresh delivery in time for their tea on Friday 18th July.
The huge donation was recycled from one of Home from Home’s development sites in Ipswich due to a garden redesign. After noticing the Drusillas appeal for bamboo featured online in June 2013, Home from Home decided to contact the zoo to see whether the plants would be of use.
Ian commented: “We didn’t want the bamboo to go to waste and were keen to find a way it could be recycled or used. Knowing there was a shortage of bamboo for the red pandas, we organised our grounds team to harvest it at 8am so it was nice and fresh – even our Director helped out.”
With two extra mouths to feed following the arrival of two red panda babies in June, Drusillas were delighted.
Drusillas Park’s Zoo Manager, Sue Woodgate commented: “We are so grateful for the donation of the bamboo and the effort it has taken to get it to us all the way from Ipswich.”
“The bamboo was really fresh; just how the animals, especially the red pandas like it. Drusillas zoo keepers are always looking for fresh browse for our animals and big deliveries like this help us so much.”
Home from Home’s Stewart Scott added: “It is absolutely fantastic and a great feeling to know our team has gone the extra mile and it has been appreciated. It was worth the long drive!”