New CGI images reveal what Bristol Zoo will look like for visitors at its new location of the Wild Place Project. They give a first glimpse of what people can expect once the project is complete.
The zoo's previous location in Clifton closed last September, and construction of the new site by junction 17 of the M5 is expected to begin in 2024 and will be phased over a number of years.
The new CGI images show plans for a central African forests area, which will be home to the Western lowland gorilla troop from Bristol Zoo Gardens, as well as a conservation learning campus for undergraduate and postgraduate study, where visitors will be able to see scientists at work. There will be a new entrance area featuring a red panda exhibit, as well as a gift shop and restaurant.
It's been confirmed that 50 species will move from Bristol Zoo Gardens to the new site, including the blue-eyed black lemurs, the lemur leaf frog and the Corfu killifish. These will be joined by new additions from other zoos and aquariums around the world, such as two black rhinoceros, north African red-necked ostrich and grevy’s zebra.
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Along with the gorillas, the new central African forest area will be home to several endangered and critically-endangered species, including cherry-crowned mangabey monkeys, slender-snouted crocodiles and several rare species of west African fish, which visitors will be able to see in a new underwater viewing area.
Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, which owns and operates Wild Place Project and Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: “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.”
The society says it has developed its animal species plan to focus its resources on 76 species most in need of protection using a number of tools, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which produces the Red List of globally-threatened species. BZS carries out conservation projects on four continents. Species under threat in these areas will also form part of its plan.
When the first phase of the new zoo opens, around 80 per cent of the resident species will be linked to the society’s conservation programmes around the world, which it says will be living in spaces closely reflecting their natural habitats. By 2035, its target is for 90% of species to be linked to its conservation work, with more planned to arrive over a number of years.
Chief executive of BZS 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.”
Since the site at Clifton Zoo Gardens closed last year, some animals have already relocated to the Wild Place, but many have gone to other zoos. A campaign to Save Bristol Zoo claims that too few of the animals, particularly large mammals, will be heading to the new site to justify the move.
The campaign is calling for BZS to reverse its decision to close it and relocate, saying the decision was motivated by financial reasons as a 220-apartment development is now planned for the site. BZS says that the site needs to be sold to enable it to 'deliver its ambitious new vision and secure the future of Bristol Zoo'.
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