A9 dualling delivers 'bear' necessities
The A9 dualling project may be driving motorists round the bend – but it’s proving to be a winner with some of the animals at Highland Wildlife Park.
The A9 dualling project may be driving motorists round the bend – but it’s proving to be a winner with some of the animals at Highland Wildlife Park.
Wills Bros John Paul JV, who are currently dualling the A9 between Kincraig and Dalraddy, has donated approximately 50 traffic cones and six short sections of drainage pipe to the Park.
Walker, Arktos and Victoria – all polar bears at the Kingussie site – have had great fun frolicking about with their new orange toys. Musk ox are also enjoying being able to head-butt and roll the drainage pipes.
The materials, which had already been used in the A9 construction project, would normally been disposed of once they were no longer required on the site; however, RZSS Highland Wildlife Park and the contractor have been working together since last year to use of any unwanted material in an innovative and environmentally-friendly way.
Excess greenery felled was also be donated to the Park to be used as animal feed.
Work to dual the stretch of the A9 between Kincraig and Dalraddy got underway in September last year.
Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work said: “Work began on this project ten months ago and significant progress has been made, with work now well underway to lay the first section of the dualled stretch of A9 carriageway. "Donating this material to RZSS Highland Wildlife Park has been an added bonus, and the contractor should be congratulated for exploring opportunities to dispose of this material in such aninnovative way. Their appreciation of the natural beauty and ecology of the Cairngorms National Park demonstrates the level of care and attention towards the area that I would like to see reflected across the rest of the A9 Dualling Programme.”
Douglas Richardson, Head of Living Collections at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, said: “We’re delighted to have received the materials from Wills Bros John Paul JV. The animals have been making good use of the various items, which are being used for enrichment purposes as well as for bedding and flooring in a number of enclosures.”
Paul Gilligan, Construction Manager for Contractor Wills Bros John Paul Joint Venture said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to donate these materials to RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, where they can be utilised within the animal enclosures.
“These items were directly sourced from our site clearance activities and it is great that we are able to recycle these materials and put them to good use within RZSS Highland Wildlife Park. We look forward to seeing the animals enjoying them.”