Bristol Zoo: Why the opening of new Central African Forest habitat will be delayed until 2026

Construction of the new habitat started in June, but the overall completion timeline has been delayed after swallows and wrens were discovered nesting in the old Okapi stable which was due to be taken down as part of the transformation.

This meant the construction of the new Crocodile and Parrot House was delayed until the birds fledged in late summer.

Bristol Zoo Project announced they will be delaying the opening of the completed Central African Forest habitat to the public until spring 2026.

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This will allow more time for both the animals to acclimatise to their new homes and the landscape to establish and mature.

The new habitat will be home to some of the world’s most threatened species, including a troop of critically endangered western lowland gorillas, a new group of endangered cherry-crowned mangabey monkeys, critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles, endangered African grey parrots and several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish.

When asked about the impact the delay would have on the gorillas, a spokesperson told BristolWorld the constructions of the gorilla house has not been impacted by the delay and will be built in time to welcome the troop in summer 2025. The gorillas continue to be well cared for at the old site.