In recognition of World Environment Day (June 5), Addo Elephant National Park, near Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape, is making big improvements to mitigate its impact on the environment.
In recent months, various solar-powered projects have been commissioned throughout the park and a biofiltration system is recycling up to 80% of its busiest camps grey water.
The parks 17 largest boreholes have been converted from diesel generators to solar. These boreholes supply drinking water to animals at waterholes and also service a number of staff homes across most of its 160000ha.
Whereas the diesel generators were noisy, emitted carbon emissions, and were labour- and fuel-intensive in that they needed staff to drive to, check, repair and refuel them regularly, the new solar systems are quiet, clean, and require minimal maintenance.
Added to that, the parks spending on diesel to run the generators has considerably decreased.
