JE boosts Durrell’s fleet of environmentally friendly electric vehicles
Jersey Electricity (JE) is generously sponsoring two new electric vehicles for use within Durrell’s Wildlife Park in Trinity.
The ‘John Deere’ vehicles will be used by the rangers, keepers and landscape and maintenance team for heavy duty work. They will effectively double Durrell’s existing fleet of electric vehicles which already comprises two “Dodo-mobiles”, which are used to transport visitors around the 32-acre park as they view some of the planet’s most endangered species and learn how Durrell is helping them.
The use of electric vehicles is an important part of Durrell’s commitment to be as environmentally sustainable as possible in all aspects of its work. Durrell Site Environmental Coordinator Gordon Hunt explained: ‘The new electric vehicles reflect the environmentally-friendly ethos behind everything we do at Durrell and we must say a huge thank you to JE for its generous support. From caring for endangered species and creating sustainable developments, such as the new bat enclosure, to offsetting all carbon through rainforest protection and tree planting in Brazil, we aim to minimise any damage to the environments we work in and using electric vehicles is part of how we do that in Jersey.’
Last year, Durrell was given a prestigious Green Tourism Gold Award, which underlined its commitment to sustainability, and the two new electric vehicles will help the Wildlife Park continue to meet the high standards required to receive such an award.
JE has committed to sponsoring the two vehicles as this reflects the Company’s own strategy to continue reduce Jersey’s overall carbon and particulate emissions.
JE CEO Chris Ambler said: ‘We are always pleased to support Durrell in the invaluable conservation and environmental work it does. The electric ‘John Deere’ vehicles are an ideal way to demonstrate that support as they perfectly reflect Durrell’s and Jersey Electricity’s commitment to sustainability.’
Durrell has installed an electric vehicle charging point in front of its new award-winning visitor centre that isavailable for use by the public.
