Zoo animals use old firefighting equipment in homes

A platform topper, made from old fire hose, was created for Dougal the arctic fox

Animals in a Morpeth zoo are putting old fire service equipment to good use.

Northumberland Zoo approached the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) to ask if they had any old and unwanted durable materials for their animal enclosures.

The TWFRS team in Gateshead donated 984ft (300m) of old fire hose, and 656ft (200m) of former rope rescue line.

The materials were used to create hammocks, platform toppers, hanging hay nets and toys for the animals.

Arthur the ring-tailed lemur got a hammock made from old fire hose

Fire hoses were also used to hang hay nets for Izzy, Flash and Janice the goats

Zoo Manager Maxine Bradley explained that fire hoses were tough and therefore ideal for the zoo’s inhabitants.

She said: "The toughness is great for larger carnivore species and safe for them to use, so the zoo keepers don't need to worry about the animals shredding it easily.

"For example, Hamish and Dougal, the arctic foxes, are particularly difficult to enrich as they eat everything given them. They cannot seem to break through the fire hose, which is great news for the zoo."

Northumberland Zoo have 90 animal species, including Karli and Nieva the snow leopards

Anthony Hall, from TWFRS, said: "It is wonderful to see our operational materials that have been used by firefighters to help save people’s lives have been given a new lease of life.

“As as service, we try to recycle a large proportion of our materials to help protect the environment and save the equipment from being sent to landfill.”