Bristol Zoo
Bristol Zoo | |
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51°27′48″N 2°37′20″W / 51.46333°N 2.62222°W | |
Date opened | 1836 |
Date closed | 3 September 2022 |
Location | Clifton, Bristol, England |
Land area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
No. of animals | 7155 (2007)[2] |
No. of species | 419 (2007) |
Annual visitors | 478,126 (2018)[1] |
Memberships | The Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society |
Major exhibits | Zona Brazil, Seal and Penguin Coasts, Gorilla Island |
Website | www |
Bristol Zoo was a
The mammal collection at the zoo numbered around 300, representing 50 species, including:
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
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. It was listed as an asset of community value in 2021.[7]
Animal exhibits
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- Seal and Penguin Coasts was a major attraction at the zoo; opened in 1999, it allowed
Penguins at Bristol Zoo - Gorilla Island was home to a family of western lowland gorillas. One silverback, Jock as well as Kera, Kala and Touni. In February 2016, Kera's first baby Afia was born after an emergency caesarean section. In April 2017, Touni gave birth to baby Ayana. In August 2020, Kala gave birth to a baby Hasani. Also in December 2020, Touni gave birth to her second baby called Juni. As well as an indoor house, they had a large island. Despite the gorilla's herbivorous diet, keepers did not enter the same space as the apes. This is because not only is there a great risk of injury with these powerful primates, but they also wanted to let the gorillas socialize on their own without human interference.
- The Top Terrace was one of the oldest parts of the zoo. It was home to a pair of Greater Flamingos.
- The Reptile House housed a collection of reptiles and amphibians. The house itself was heated and gave a sense of the heat of the rainforest. There were three sections to the house: Desert (Gila monsters, geckos and tortoises), Rainforest (dwarf crocodiles, terrapins and snakes) and the Rearing Room where visitors could view the raising of reptiles and amphibian and also learn about the zoo's conservation work. Outside, but still considered part of the reptile house, was a giant tortoise and rhinoceros iguana enclosure where the animals had access to a heated indoor house and an outdoor enclosure.
- The Aquarium had around 70 species of fish. The aquarium had three sections: The goodeids from Mexico and paddlefish and alligator garfrom North America.
- Bug World, was the zoo's collection of leaf-cutting ants and Lord Howe Island stick insects. Bug World also housed the Critically Endangered Desertas Wolf Spider. Previous displays included peacock mantis shrimp and black widow spiders.
Butterfly Forest - Monkey Jungle opened in 2006 and featured four new exhibits replacing the old monkey house. An enclosure was home to crowned lemurs and ring-tailed lemurs where visitors could walk in with the lemurs without any boundaries. The other enclosures were home to brown spider monkeys and lion-tailed macaques. There was also a nearby enclosure for black howler monkeys and six-banded armadillos. The islands opposite Gorilla Island housed a family of squirrel monkeys, a pair of agile gibbons and also golden-headed lion tamarins.
- The Butterfly House was made up of an undercover walk-through in a sustainably-heated, climate-controlled atlas moths. The exhibit was linked to sustainable butterfly producers in Costa Rica. The zoo also supported work to protect the rare silky wave moth in Avon Gorge.
History
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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[9] joined the main entrance lodge[10] and the south gates on Guthrie Road[11] 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
Conservation
Bristol Zoological Society (BZS) supports
Similarly, BZS supports the UK–US charity
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.[13][14]
Wild Place Project
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
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The new conservation breeding centre will include
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.[15]
Future plans include a Bristol Zoo-managed conservation breeding centre with climate-controlled enclosures, learning centre and conservation medicine centre.[16]
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:
- will be in a new central African rainforest area.
- The Eastern black rhinoceros and Ostrich will join the giraffe, zebra, eland, red river hog and cheetah in the Benoue National Park area.
Event hosting
The
See also
References
- ^ "ALVA – Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". alva.org.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- ^ Bristol Zoo Annual Report 2007 Archived 6 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Bristol Zoo to leave Clifton site after 185 years", BBC News, 27 November 2020
- ^ Sophie Grubb, "Bristol Zoo closing: Mayor says relocation was 'the very best decision'", Bristol Post, 27 November 2020
- ^ "Bristol Zoo in pictures: Attraction shuts after 186 years", BBC News, 3 September 2022
- ^ "Assets of Community Value Lists". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Haran, Brady (13 May 2017). "Dr". Hello internet. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ "Bristol Zoological Gardens, Giraffe House". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
- ^ "Bristol Zoological Gardens entrance". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
- ^ "South entrance gates and screen walls to Bristol Zoological Gardens". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ford, Lily (2 December 2021). "Conservationists rescue two species of snail thought to be extinct for 100 years". The Independent. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Conservationists from the UK and Portugal launch dramatic rescue mission". Bristol Zoo Gardens. 2 December 2021.
- ^ New Bristol attraction opens 22 July | The Wild Place Project Archived 6 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Wildplace.org.uk.
- ^ "Bristol Zoo's new home to include some of world's most threatened species". Blooloop. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Music festival returns to the zoo. This is Bristol (9 May 2012).
External links
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