FEATURE: Good, clean dung

Elephant poo paper has become a surprise hit with tourists at a wildlife park in Indonesia.

Emma Younger

Last Updated: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:06:00 +1100

"Everyone can't wait to come and see it being made and they all want a souvenir, want a piece to take home," says Australian education manager Wendy Husband.

Mrs Husband, and her partner Tim, are the curators of Bali's Safari and Marine Park, where they collect over 100 tonnes of elephant dung each month.

Once collected, it is rinsed, boiled and washed. "We want to break it down so it's not long and stringy," Mrs Husband explains.

It is then cooked on a stove and combined with recycled paper.

Not just any old dung can be used. Mrs Husband insists the park is "really picky".

"We're looking for a complete dung - some that has nice fibres in it because that's what holds the paper together."

Ms Husband says most people have a good reaction when they see the paper for the first time.

"Everyone smells it, everyone grabs a piece and smells it, it's the first thing they do."

She's keen to point out that the product is organic and clean. And she says the park's paper is starting to get commercial interest.

"A lot of companies are loving it and would love to use it."

Some, she says, even want to use it for their menus.

It is not just elephant dung that can be used. There are also plans to create what Ms Husband calls a "mixed blend".

"We have a whole range of animals here - zebras, giraffes...and we collect dung daily of course."

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