Bristol Zoo
Main entrance
51°27′48″N 2°37′20″W / 51.46333°N 2.62222°W / 51.46333; -2.62222
Date opened1836
Date closed2022
LocationClifton, Bristol, England
Land area12 acres (4.9 ha)
No. of animals7155 (2007)[1]
No. of species419 (2007)
Annual visitors478,126 (2018)[2]
MembershipsThe Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society
Major exhibitsZona Brazil, Seal and Penguin Coasts, Gorilla Island
Websitewww.bristolzoo.org.uk

Bristol Zoo was a zoo in the city of Bristol in South West England. The zoo's stated mission was to "maintain and defend" biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world".[3]

The mammal collection at the zoo numbered around 300, representing 50 species, including: gorillas, Asiatic lions, goodfellow's tree-kangaroo, and red pandas. Among species on view at Bristol which are rare or absent in other UK zoos were Livingstone's fruit bats, aye ayes and quolls.

The zoo's Twilight Zone was the first of its kind when it opened, there were many other indoor exhibits including an insect and reptile house and aquarium meanwhile outside there were several aviaries and a seal and penguin enclosure. The lakes' islands were home to gorillas, golden lion tamarins, golden-headed lion tamarins, gibbons and squirrel monkeys.

The Zoo announced on 27 November 2020 that after more than 186 years its main centre in Clifton would close in 2022, with its animals moving to its Wild Place Project site close to the M5 motorway and the zoo reopening there in early 2024.[4][5] In the event, it closed its gates for the last time on 3 September 2022.[6] The site is being redeveloped for housing.

Animal exhibits

South American fur seal seen through the observation windows at Seal and Penguin Coasts, Bristol Zoo.

History

The Southeast Asia tank in the zoo aquarium.

Opened in 1836 by the Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society, Bristol Zoo was the world's oldest provincial zoo. It was a Victorian walled zoo located between Clifton Down and Clifton College, near Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge; it covered a small area by modern standards, but with a considerable number of species. In the 1960s the zoo came to national prominence by appearing in the UK television series, Animal Magic, hosted by the comic animal 'communicator', Johnny Morris. Morris would play keeper and voice all the animals there.

The zoo's official name was Bristol Zoological Gardens ('Bristol Zoo Gardens' for commercial purposes). This was not in recognition of the flower displays but recognises the first use of that title at the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens. Bristol, like its earlier London counterpart, included several original buildings which have been praised for their architectural quirks, despite being unsuitable for the care of animals; the (former) Giraffe House[8] joined the main entrance lodge[9] and the south gates on Guthrie Road[10] as a Grade II listed building. The old Monkey Temple, resembling a southern Asian temple, was home to an exhibit called "Smarty plants", an interactive exhibit which shows how plants use and manipulate animals to survive.

The zoo also has breeding firsts, including the first black rhino born in Britain in 1958, the first squirrel monkey born in captivity in 1953 and the first chimpanzee born in Europe in 1934.

Conservation

Bristol Zoological Society (BZS) supports wildlife conservation, education and breeding programmes worldwide. For example, Bristol worked with other zoos around the world to breed lemurs in captivity. Native to Madagascar, the lemurs are critically endangered because their forest habitat is being destroyed.

Similarly, BZS supports the UK–US charity Ape Action Africa, which rescues and rehabilitates primates in Cameroon, West Africa.[11] Closer to home, the zoo helped to reintroduce the water vole and the white-clawed crayfish to parts of Southern England. They also had conservation projects for Kordofan giraffe, Agalychnis lemur, Negros bleeding-heart pigeon, Sanje Mangabey and Hogna ingens

In 2021, as part of the Bristol Zoological Society's focus on conservation, the zoo has been involved in the ongoing captive breeding program to rescue two species of critically endangered Madeiran land snail, (Discula lyelliana and Geomitra grabhami). Since the early 20th century, the snails were believed to be extinct, but remnant populations were rediscovered in 2013.[12][13]

Wild Place Project

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the Bristol zoo

The Wild Place Project is designed to house larger animals than the former Bristol Zoo. The zoo is split into biomes, representing species found only in specific habitats. Current areas include: Bear wood, Gelada rocks, Discover Madagascar and Benoue National Park. The species list currently includes: red river hog, Sudan cheetah, zebra, common eland, gelada baboon, Kirk's dik-dik, Pink pigeon, Visayan tarictic hornbill, village weaver, Reticulated giraffe, wolverine, Eurasian lynx, grey wolf, brown bear and a brand new Ostrich.

The new conservation breeding centre will include Annam leaf turtle, Lesser Antillean iguana, Pancake Tortoise, Radiated tortoise, Roti Island snake-necked turtle, Indochinese box turtle, Agalychnis lemur, Leptodactylus fallax, Marshall's pygmy chameleon, Lygodactylus williamsi, Varanus macraei, Uroplatus, Hogna ingens, Polynesian tree snail, Lord Howe Island stick insect, Socorro dove, Visayan tarictic hornbill, Sumatran laughingthrush, Philippine cockatoo, Javan green magpie, European turtle dove, Mindanao bleeding-heart, Negros bleeding-heart pigeon, pink pigeon, Malagasy cichlids, Malagasy rainbow fish and powder blue panchax, Pupfish and goodeids and White clawed crayfish.

Finally, there will be a new entrance with a new café, new gift shop and new entry exhibits.

The site officially opened on 22 July 2013 as Wild Place Project.[14]

Future plans include a Bristol Zoo-managed conservation breeding centre with climate-controlled enclosures, learning centre and conservation medicine centre.[15]

Closure

In 2020, BZS announced that Bristol Zoo Gardens would close in 2022 and the Wild Place Project will become the new Bristol zoo in early 2024 and will be home to new exhibits:

Event hosting

The WOMAD music festival came to the zoo in 2011,[16] with a subsequent event in 2012.[17]

See also

References

  1. Bristol Zoo Annual Report 2007 Archived 6 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "ALVA – Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". alva.org.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  3. "Bristol Zoological Gardens Strategic Plan 2008-2018". Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society Limited. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  4. "Bristol Zoo to leave Clifton site after 185 years", BBC News, 27 November 2020
  5. Sophie Grubb, "Bristol Zoo closing: Mayor says relocation was 'the very best decision'", Bristol Post, 27 November 2020
  6. "Bristol Zoo in pictures: Attraction shuts after 186 years", BBC News, 3 September 2022
  7. Haran, Brady. "Dr". Hello internet. Hello internet. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  8. "Bristol Zoological Gardens, Giraffe House". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
  9. "Bristol Zoological Gardens entrance". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
  10. "South entrance gates and screen walls to Bristol Zoological Gardens". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
  11. Bristol Zoo website – Bristol Zoo presents gorilla sculpture to Cameroon school children – 14/04/11 Archived 17 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Bristolzoo.org.uk.
  12. Ford, Lily (2 December 2021). "Conservationists rescue two species of snail thought to be extinct for 100 years". The Independent. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. "Conservationists from the UK and Portugal launch dramatic rescue mission". Bristol Zoo Gardens. 2 December 2021.
  14. New Bristol attraction opens 22 July | The Wild Place Project Archived 6 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Wildplace.org.uk.
  15. "Bristol Zoo's new home to include some of world's most threatened species". Blooloop. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  16. AN evening of music from around the world will be staged at Bristol Zoo this summer as it teams up with the WOMAD festival for a unique concert.. This is Bristol (18 March 2011).
  17. Music festival returns to the zoo. This is Bristol (9 May 2012).
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