Elephant manure and panda poo will be used to power a French zoo, it was announced this week.

The Beauval Zoo which is just south of Orleans in central France is getting its own biogas plant from spring 2014 after building begins in June later this year.

The €2.3million biogas plant will heat the greenhouse room which is home to gorillas, a swimming pool for manatees and the Elephant House.

The zoo joked in a statement: “Elephants do not know, but their manure will heat their building in winter!”

On top of the 5,500 tonnes of animal manure and green garden waste such as grass cuttings around the ZooParc, 5,400 tonnes of cattle and pig manure will be supplied by local farmers.

The zoo hopes to slash 10% of its gas bill for heating the ZooParc while excess electricity will be sold to French supplier EDF Energy.

Solar panels were installed on the roof of the Elephant House in 2011 which produce 40 000 kilowatts year.