Blackpool Zoo has been actively supporting the Gorilla Organization for 15 years - carrying out fundraising events and public collections and raising over £10,000 for gorilla conservation. Various activities have taken place at the zoo including awareness weeks, acting ape workshops and even a gorilla poo throwing competition!

In May 2008 the Zoo held a gorilla conservation weekend entitled ‘going…going…gone!’ which proved to be a great success with the zoo visitors and staff alike. Gorilla focused activities occurred at the zoo including ‘acting ape’ workshops where children (and adults!) were encouraged to participate in favourite gorilla behaviours, making feeding enrichment for the zoos Apes and other fundraising events.

Following an educational session on primates, a local beaver group from the Scouting movement participated in a ‘gorilla poo throwing competition’ aimed to develop their interests in ape behaviour and to show their similarities to humans (not necessarily the poo throwing part!). Fake poo was concocted from paper maiche and painted brown to resemble real life gorilla poo and was thrown the furthest to win a prize. This proved to be a ‘firm’ (excuse the pun!) favourite among the beavers!

Written by Louise Bell