Dovercourt fire cadets learn about hoses repurpose at Colchester Zoo

For the last 15 years, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has donated its old fire hoses to Colchester Zoo to be recycled into toys, hammocks and feeding tools for its animals.

Dovercourt Fire Station cadets Jorje and Zak, for example, recently created a variety of puzzle feeders using a 25-metre hose reel which may have otherwise gone to waste. 

The toys have since been hung up in the baboon enclosure, where the zoo's Gelada Baboons are already enjoying their new playthings.

Jorje said: “The animals really enjoyed the toys and it was great to see them all excited. 

“You can use our old hoses to make toys for any animal here really. You can make literally anything like benches, hammocks, walls etc.

“Next time you’re at Colchester Zoo, try and keep an eye out for our little fire hose toys."

Zak said it had been "really fun" making the toys for the animals.

"We’ll take our learning back to our cadet unit and hopefully we can all make some more toys from old fire hoses to donate to the zoo," he added.

Kelly Hand, visitor experience host co-ordinator at Colchester Zoo, said the durable material of the hoses makes for lasting toys which elephants in particular find hard to break.

She said: “Over the years, we’ve developed a great relationship with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, they’ve donated many reels of fire hose which as a zoo we’ve been able to give a second life to. 

“Not only is this a great form of recycling but also the secondary use is we can give our animals different forms of enrichment made from the fire hose.

David Rogers, supplies officer at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, added: “It’s great to see the fire hoses repurposed for a good cause and I’ve always been surprised at how many different ways the zoo uses it.

"It would be a real shame to see fire hoses going to landfill after serving such a good purpose saving lives and putting out fires in Essex.”