This is Otana, the Western Lowland Gorilla at Melbourne Zoo. He's been staying warm during winter thanks to wood wool from Barkstead in the Wombat State Forest.
'Wood wool' is essentially fine wood shavings cut from timber, and often used for nesting and bedding materials for animals. In this case, storm debris has been collected from the Wombat State Forest before being turned into wood wool at a mill in Bendigo. It was then donated to Melbourne Zoo, to be used as bedding for Tasmanian Devils, meerkats, orangutans, gorillas and tigers!
Some fallen trees and root balls from the storm damaged area of the Dandenong Ranges National Park are now used as fish habitat along streams; wildlife habitat in Lysterfield Lake Park; and animal enclosures at Werribee Zoo.
Parks Victoria and Zoos Victoria have used finished timber products made from storm debris for bollards, sleepers, log seats, mulch and picnic tables. In the Wombat State Forest, we are planting native species to rehabilitate some storm affected sites – and even the plant stakes are made from storm debris.
To prepare for the upcoming fire season and reduce bushfire risk, work has been done to remove hazardous storm debris in the Wombat State Forest and Dandenong Ranges National Park and put to good use wherever possible.
