Seven-year-old friends Lilah and Inti – dressed as a lion and leopard respectively – were among the most vocal of the protesters. They marched through the streets of Clifton in Bristol shoulder to shoulder, chanting, “Leave our zoo alone! Hands off our zoo!” They paused only to discuss what their favourite animals had been – and decided on the butterflies. “They were so pretty and would land on you,” said Lilah.
The pair were among hundreds of people, young and old, who took part in a demonstration on Sunday calling for the reversal of a decision to close Bristol Zoo Gardens.
