Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is going to produce energy from its own animal dung.

To turn the animal poo into fuel a machine called an 'anaerobic digester' is used. It uses bacteria to break down the poo in the same way a cow's stomach breaks down grass to digest it.

In anaerobic digester this makes methane, which can be used to generate heat or electricity. In a real-life cow this produces wind! 

Curator of Plants and Gardens Kevin Frediani said: “As an environmental park we want to explore possibilities and test ideas – we can be the guinea pigs for new green technology and share the latest thinking with our half million annual visitors.

"There are many benefits to anaerobic digestion – it turns organic waste into energy and creates a valuable, nutrient rich, odour-free fertilizer. It also disposes of waste on site, so it doesn’t have to be taken long distances by road.

Paignton Zoo animal dung is currently used to produce a garden compost called Zoo Poo.