We look inside Bristol Zoo where the gorillas are still living almost two years after it closed

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It was a strange feeling being back at Bristol Zoo Gardens, but I was also curious to see what it was like now almost two years after it had closed.

After entering through the Conservation Education Centre at the rear of the former zoo in Clifton, it became clear that the site was very much still in use. 

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I had been invited to the site after two men had broken in, filmed the gorillas still living there and claimed that they were 'abandoned' - a claim that the zoo strongly denied

BristolWorld has visited Bristol Zoo Gardens after claims gorillas were 'abandoned' at the site in CliftonBristolWorld has visited Bristol Zoo Gardens after claims gorillas were 'abandoned' at the site in Clifton
BristolWorld has visited Bristol Zoo Gardens after claims gorillas were 'abandoned' at the site in Clifton | Charlie Watts

At the education centre, I was greeted by Hannah Windross, the director of people and public engagement at Bristol Zoological Society, who then took me on a tour of the site.  

As we walked around the education centre, I saw a number of students, with the site still being used for higher education courses.

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I then saw the ongoing conservation work at the site, including that of the white-clawed crayfish

Next, we walked through the gardens, which were still largely maintained, to the gorilla enclosure.

A troop of eight gorillas have remained living at the zoo since it closure on September 3, 2022A troop of eight gorillas have remained living at the zoo since it closure on September 3, 2022
A troop of eight gorillas have remained living at the zoo since it closure on September 3, 2022 | Charlie Watts

Outside, I could see the troop of eight critically endangered western lowland gorillas, who then went inside to eat their food.

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Sarah Gedman, the zoo’s curator of mammals, told me how the gorillas are still fed three to five times a day on ‘browse’ - mainly leaves and bark. 

Seeing the animals playing and eating was a far cry from the claims in the viral social media video that they were being neglected; they were clearly being well cared for.

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While the other animals have moved on, the gorillas have stayed on the site since the zoo closed on September 3, 2022 as a temporary measure.

Work has recently started on their new enclosure at Bristol zoo's new site, the Bristol Zoo Project, which is located near J17 of the M5.

Work has started on a new Central African Forest at Bristol Zoo Project, which is set to open in spring 2025 and will be the new home for the gorillasWork has started on a new Central African Forest at Bristol Zoo Project, which is set to open in spring 2025 and will be the new home for the gorillas
Work has started on a new Central African Forest at Bristol Zoo Project, which is set to open in spring 2025 and will be the new home for the gorillas | Blackpoint Design

Due to open in spring 2025, the Central African Forest will see the gorillas living with mangabeys in an area four and a half times the size of their current home at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens.  

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As for the former site, council chiefs have approved plans to transform it into 196 new homes, a conservation hub and open public gardens - although a legal challenge is expected from campaigners against the project.       

It was indeed a strange experience to be back at the Bristol Zoo Gardens, but my visit has shown that despite the zoo's closure, the site is still very much the subject of ongoing work and conservation efforts.

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