Detroit Zoo Wins Keep Michigan Beautiful Award

ROYAL OAK, MI — The Detroit Zoological Society has received the Keep Michigan Beautiful award in recognition of its ongoing efforts in environmental sustainability. The award was presented Oct. 20 by Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc., which annually recognizes programs and activities that substantially contribute to environmental improvement, clean up, beautification, site restoration and historical preservation.

“We’re honored to be recognized for our contributions to the environmental well-being of our great state, and more importantly, to inspire our community to incorporate green initiatives into their lives as well,” said Detroit Zoo Executive Director and CEO Ron Kagan.

The zoo’s efforts to keep Michigan beautiful include building an anaerobic digester, which will annually convert 500 tons of animal manure and organic food waste into a methane-rich gas that will help power the Zoo’s animal hospital.

The DZS is also keeping 60,000 plastic bottles out of the waste stream annually by no longer selling bottled water – previously the No. 1 seller at Zoo concessions – and encouraging visitors to purchase wildlife-themed reusable bags at Zoo gift shops in order to reduce plastic waste. In addition, the DZS incorporates permeable pavement into new visitor walkways and a parking lot, which reduces stormwater runoff and filters pollutants.

The Detroit Zoological Society – a renowned leader in education, conservation, animal welfare and sustainability – operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. In recognition of its environmental leadership, the DZS received the top Green Award from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and was named Best-Managed Nonprofit by Crain’s Detroit Business.

The AZA also recognized the DZS with the International Conservation Award for its work rescuing orphaned Grauer’s gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With an annual regional economic impact of more than $100 million, the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is one of Michigan’s largest paid family attractions, hosting more than 1.6 million visitors annually.

Its 125 acres of award-winning naturalistic habitats are home to 2,000 animals representing 240 species. The Belle Isle Nature Center sits on a 5-acre site surrounded by undisturbed forested wetlands on Belle Isle State Park in Detroit. It provides year-round educational, recreational and environmental conservation opportunities for the community. For hours, prices, directions and other information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit detroitzoo.org.

Photo courtesy of the Detroit Zoo