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New Bristol Zoo to be built at Wild Place from 2024
On the same day that a public meeting is due to take place with the aim of preventing housing from being built on the former site of Bristol Zoo in Clifton, zoo bosses have revealed the first images of what the attraction could look like at what is now Wild Place.
Construction of the new Bristol Zoo is expected to begin in 2024 and will be phased over a number of years with Wild Place remaining open throughout.
Among the dozens of species moving from Clifton to South Glos will be the Western lowland gorillas, blue-eyed black lemurs and turquoise geckos, with 76 different animals and birds planned for the first phase of the new zoo.
is needed now More than ever
Images released on Wednesday show plans for an African forests area which will become the home of the gorilla troop from Bristol Zoo; and a conservation learning campus, where visitors will be able to see scientists at work.
A new conservation campus will have facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate conservation students to study, along with a conservation medicine centre.
Visitors to the new Bristol Zoo at Wild Place will be able to watch scientists at work – image: FCB Studios
Bristol Zoological Society chief executive, Dr Justin Morris, said: “We’re excited to share these images of the new Bristol Zoo.
“They show how animals will have the space to thrive and future generations will come face-to-face with amazing animals in nature, as well as learn more about our charity’s critical conservation and education work, to protect at-risk species and habitats.”
The family of gorillas will be making the move from the zoo’s historic Clifton site to Wild Place – image: FCB Studios
When it opens, around 80 per cent of the species at the new Bristol Zoo will be linked to Bristol Zoological Society’s conservation programmes around the world.
By 2035, the charity hopes for 90 per cent of species to be linked to its conservation work – with more species planned to arrive over a number of years.
Director of conservation & science at Bristol Zoological Society, Brian Zimmerman, added: “We’ve developed our animal species plan so that we can really focus our resources on animals that most need our help, and maximise the impact we make to the conservation of wildlife.”
Main image: FCB Studios
Read next:
- Public meeting to discuss future of Bristol Zoo site
- Campaigners accuse Bristol Zoo of misleading the public
- Meet the Bristol Zoo birds being moved to Wild Place
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