Taronga staff took to the streets of Sydney to celebrate diversity and sustainability in the 2011 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

Video by Aymeric De Meautis 

In our third year of participation, the parade is a highlight for Zoo staff. One hundred staff marched in their green uniforms and performed a choreographed routine in celebration of Taronga’s diversity and sustainable lifestyles. 

The centre piece of the float was a five metre-long fish sculpture which was created in the Zoo during the school holidays by visitors. It’s covered in scales made of thousands of signed, recycled CDs that each represent someone’s pledge towards more sustainable seafood choices.

Mardi Gras float takes shape

Visitors were also given the opportunity to learn more about choosing sustainable seafood and take home a pocket-sized guide to help them buy sustainable seafood.

It is estimated that around 80% of the world’s fish stocks are either fully fished out or overfished. We need to manage our oceans in a sustainable way to ensure there is enough fish for future generations of people and animals.