Checking it all out

Staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park have taken steps to reduce exhaust emissions by‘carbon cleaning’their keeper vehicles and the bus.

The visitor attraction worked with Scottish firm Carbon Cleaning Scotland to improve the efficiency of the park’s transport fleet.

The project was led by Dave Warren, education officer at Blair Drummond Safari Park, who spotted the smoky trucks moving around the park’s reserves and contacted the company for advice.

“The keepers’trucks are only driven short distances, negotiating round the reserves at slow speeds and barely getting out of second gear,”said Dave.“This driving style results in a build-up of unburned deposits in the engine and causes increased smoky exhaust fumes. Carbon Cleaning Scotland came to the park and serviced our Landrovers and Mini Bus to remove the deposits from the engines. This will result in a significant drop in emissions and restored performance.”

Andy Graham, head of Carbon Cleaning Scotland, said: “It was a pleasure to treat their fleet knowing the animals, staff and public would all benefit from not being subject to unnecessary exhaust toxins.”

Head lion keeper Brian Reid was first to have his truck to be treated. He said: “My jeep was well known amongst the staff for its smoky idling, it probably travels the shortest daily distance of all the park’s vehicles. This can only be a good thing for the animals and environment.”