Objective

• Improve animal welfare in zoos, rehabilitation centres and sanctuaries
• Inculcate a sense of environmental stewardship and love for wildlife
• Reduce waste by upcycling fire hoses and aircraft interior scrap into useful items
• Create employment opportunities for disadvantaged persons

Challenge

ASEAN is home to some of the most biologically rich areas of earth but in order to ensure conservation of this diversity, much more has to be done to engage local communities, especially in areas such as waste management and protection of species.

To manage disposal of non-biodegradable waste and improve wildlife conservation efforts, APE Malaysia pioneered a unique programme in Malaysia by upcycling decommissioned fire hoses into hardy enrichment tools for use at zoos, animal sanctuaries and wildlife centres to improve welfare of wildlife in captivity.

However, the programme lacks a sustainable source of funding which limits the organisation’s ability to share its much-needed tools at underfunded zoos and sanctuaries around the region.

Social Enterprise

The Hoses Serving Environment & Species Project (HOSES) is an initiative by APE Malaysia to develop a range of pet toys using fire hoses and aircraft internal waste material such as old seat belts, leather seat covers and life jackets. The new toys will be sold to earn an income to fund expansion of APE Malaysia’s animal enrichment programme across ASEAN. The initiative also aims at finding new applications for waste products which would otherwise be disposed of in landfills.

Under the grant terms, the organisation will receive funding to

• Purchase new tools and materials
• Train a team of disadvantaged persons to produce the toys
• Upgrade website to enable e-commerce functions
• Undertake a Marketing Plan to promote its new pet toys range and highlight its link to improving welfare of wildlife in captivity

Find out how AirAsia Allstars are also part of this initiative to improve wildlife welfare across ASEAN:

Organisation

Animal Projects & Environment Education Sdn Bhd (APE Malaysia) is a social enterprise focusing on wildlife welfare – both captive and wild – through sustainable volunteer and educational programmes. The programmes are embedded with partner project sites and aim to benefit the environment, wildlife and local communities through monitored and measured welfare and conservation outcomes.