Zoo crew climb Kilimanjaro for penguins and polar bears! 

On January 26^th, ten brave conservationists from zoos across the country completed their trek of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) Pole to Pole campaign. The EAZA initiative is hoping to raise awareness of the impact that the middle region of the planet is having on the polar caps and the wildlife within them, including the iconic Emperor penguin and Polar bear - www.poletopolecampaign.org

To prepare for the ascent, the team had been in training for months to ensure that their fitness levels were at a high enough level to succeed. The gruelling schedule included practice climbs of Kinder Scout, Cadair Idris and Britain's own tallest mountain, Snowdonia. This was in addition to an intense fitness and training regime.

Climbing for Colchester Zoo, Sarah Forsyth, Curator explains. “Climbing Kilimanjaro was a truly amazing experience and a real challenge for us all! It’s not only the amount of walking and climbing you have to do but also dealing with a lack of oxygen at such high altitudes and the effects this had on your body. Thankfully all 10 of us made it to Uhuru peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro, and this was due to our amazing guides and how we all supported each other and worked as a team.

I was personally raising funds for Colchester Zoo’s charity Action for the Wild but so far the team have managed to raise over 17K!  The expedition was an incredible experience and a real personal achievement but, of course, raising awareness and funds for conservation was our biggest goal and hopefully we have managed to achieve that as well as the Summit!!”

The Pole to Pole Campaign was set up by EAZA and the American Association of Zoos and Aquaria (AZA) to try and encourage the public to make a small change in their behaviour to help with preserving the climate.

Lesley Dickie, Director of EAZA explains, " It was humbling to reach the top and see the glaciers that have been retreating due to climate change. This emphasised the importance of our Pole to Pole campaign and each of us making small differences in our daily lives to help conserve our natural world."

If you would still like to show your support for Sarah just go to – www.gofundme.com/630zvk