Post by L Roebuck on Feb 3, 2006 12:22:53 GMT -5
What 
Using paint remover to remove graffiti in the fragile ecosystem of a cave? 
Clean-up at caves drags on
04 February 2006
By TANE AIKMAN
More than a month after the main glow worm cave at Waitomo was attacked by vandals, the culprits have not been caught and some of the vandalism has yet to be cleaned off.
On December 29 cave staff discovered that obscenities had been painted on the walkway in white paint, which had also been splattered around the walls and floor of the main cave, one of New Zealand's premier tourist attractions.
Waitomo Attractions manager Robert Tahi said business was back to normal after an initial downturn.
Three people had been hired to scrub off the remaining paint, but some of it might not be removed for a while as it was on very delicate areas of the cave, he said.
Cave specialists, including Conservation Department staff, had been in to inspect the cave and various types of paint-remover had been tried but with limited success, so more earthy methods were being used. "It's just good old water, toothbrush and elbow grease," he said.
In sensitive areas, the paint might need chipping off with a fine pick.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3561532a7693,00.html
Using paint remover to remove graffiti in the fragile ecosystem of a cave? Clean-up at caves drags on
04 February 2006
By TANE AIKMAN
More than a month after the main glow worm cave at Waitomo was attacked by vandals, the culprits have not been caught and some of the vandalism has yet to be cleaned off.
On December 29 cave staff discovered that obscenities had been painted on the walkway in white paint, which had also been splattered around the walls and floor of the main cave, one of New Zealand's premier tourist attractions.
Waitomo Attractions manager Robert Tahi said business was back to normal after an initial downturn.
Three people had been hired to scrub off the remaining paint, but some of it might not be removed for a while as it was on very delicate areas of the cave, he said.
Cave specialists, including Conservation Department staff, had been in to inspect the cave and various types of paint-remover had been tried but with limited success, so more earthy methods were being used. "It's just good old water, toothbrush and elbow grease," he said.
In sensitive areas, the paint might need chipping off with a fine pick.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3561532a7693,00.html
