John McDonald was Recognized for Saving the North Carolina Zoo More than $1 Million

By Rod Hackney

Asheboro, NC - John McDonald, Maintenance Section Supervisor for the North Carolina Zoo, today was named first-place winner for Individual Large Projects in the 2009 Sustainability Awards presented by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

McDonald, a zoo staff member for 17 years, was recognized for saving the zoo more than $1 million in construction costs for a new elephant holding barn opened at the park in 2008. McDonald is credited with utilizing recycled oil industry pipeline to construct the mammoth holding stalls required for the $2.5 million barn.

The elephant barn was part of the “Watani Grasslands Project,” an 18-month, $8.5-million renovation and expansion of the zoo’s elephant and rhinoceros exhibits and holding facilities that opened to the public in May 2008.

The DENR Sustainability Awards are presented annually to groups or individuals “who are committed to being an exemplary role model and leader in implementing the state’s initiatives for responsible environmental stewardship,” according to the department’s announcement of the winners. A total of nine projects in group and individual categories representing both large and small projects were recognized for the 2009 awards. The zoo, an agency of DENR, has been the recipient of six of the Sustainability Awards since the program was launched in 2004.

“We are delighted that the zoo’s ongoing efforts in environmental stewardship are being recognized by the state in this way,” said Mary Joan Pugh, zoo chief of staff. “The park has for many years been implementing programs to reduce our use of water, energy and other natural resources.”

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary; Beverly E. Perdue, Governor.

Photo credit: N.C. Zoo Photo by Tom Gillespie

To view North Carolina Zoo's web site on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-22-North_Carolina_Zoo