by Joe Walker

jwalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

A jumbo-sized problem kicking up a stink at Howletts zoo has been solved by Southern Water.

The park’s 14 elephants – who let nature take its course every two hours – had been causing a headache for owners because their enclosure wasn’t connected to the public sewer system.

It meant having to hire tankers to come in and suck up daily waste water left by their toilet habits and take it to a nearby treatment works.

But Southern Water has saved the park a pound or two by connecting the enclosure to the sewers.

Trade waste boss Nigel Jarman said: “We have a great working relationship with the park.

“This is definitely one of the more unusual trade effluent contracts that we have.

"Most of them are with launderettes, car washes and things like that but this is one of the strangest.”

Elephant keeper Nathalie Boid said: “The cleaning regime for the elephants is round-the-clock and the sewer connection makes life much easier for the team as the water doesn’t have to be tankered away any more.”