There is a small indoor viewing area but it's only accessible from outside on the boardwalk. Was it closed on your visit?
Wolf and brown bear viewing area - ZooChat
Bristol Zoo Project Bristol zoo project news 2025
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Wolf and brown bear viewing area - ZooChat
As far as I know, there is no viewing to any indoor areas in Bear Wood. The photograph above is of an outside covered viewing area of the North east side of the outdoor paddock.
I'll be honest, I thought that qualifed as such. Evidently not.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That's correct, the covered viewing area is on the opposite side of the walkway to the housing (you can see the covered area on the far left of this view of the right hand portion of the enclosure). The housing has additional space outside it but I don't believe there is any indoor viewing of the house itself.
They do put cameras up in the house when the bears are in torpor which are fed into screens on the walkway, but as well as the bears I don't think there is any windowed house viewing for any of the animals who live in bear wood?
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
The zoo has started taking bookings to get up close and personal with the Gorillas once they are established in their new home. It will cost £320 for two people according to Bristol World.
They have also mentioned again that they will not be getting any more Lions, but species on the masterplan include Okapi, Black Rhino and Mandrill. I would certainly welcome all of these back, (both Mandrill and Black Rhino were a very long time ago at the old zoo) though I don't really understand why they ditched the Drills when they did. It was after only a few years with them before the old zoo closed. Mandrills being more colourful perhaps. But it will all go to make their Central African section richer when it happens.
British explorer
Well-Known Member
Was just looking at the website and there’s a message saying that the tropical house will be closed this Wednesday and Thursday while they move in mouse deer.
Charles
Well-Known Member
I can’t remember if I already said but I think the situation with the drills was that they moved either late 2019/early 2020 at the time the zoo was reducing animals I presume to stay afloat and probably delayed closing for good and didn’t think about it at the time that they could’ve kept the drills and included them in the new site
Do you have a link to the article as I couldn’t find it
It was a comment on their Facebook page by their response team to a query about whether they would have Lions again.
Yes, there is no viewing into any of the indoor areas for Bear Wood. I thought Devi was referring to there being no covered/indoor spaces where you could view the animals in their outdoor enclosures from, my apologies.
On a side note, the tropical house is a nice addition to the zoo.
Looking at the page for the Tropical House on the zoo's website, the chevrotain that has moved in is a Balabac chevrotain. Judging from Zootierliste, it seems likely that it was the last female animal from Chester Zoo (Chester is no longer listed as a holder)
LittleRavenwood
Active Member
I can confirm they're not longer at Chester, was devastated to see their signage had been removed. I hope she's easier to spot in Bristol though, seeing her in Chester was like seeing a unicorn.
Charles
Well-Known Member
Hopefully they’ll get a male in as they had success with the Malay mouse deer at BZG but very excited it’s a species I’ve wanted them to have for a while
I was there today and she was showing quite well and seemed quite unfazed by the visitors.
The Judicial Review result is in - and in favour of the BZG sale going ahead as Bristol City Council had followed all the correct processes.
Bristol Zoo Project
Bristol Zoo Project
Charles
Well-Known Member
Bristol Zoo Project on Instagram: "We have received some news today about our plans for the former Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton. Here is an update from our Chief Executive, Justin Morris."
This is BZP statement from the CEO, I found the video very professional and informative especially regarding how the legal fees could’ve helped the community and staff alike, it also sounds like this hopefully after the sale happens we’ll see investment in the zoo visibly and hopefully the zoo will flourish into what we all want it to be
This is BZP statement from the CEO, I found the video very professional and informative especially regarding how the legal fees could’ve helped the community and staff alike, it also sounds like this hopefully after the sale happens we’ll see investment in the zoo visibly and hopefully the zoo will flourish into what we all want it to be
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
According to a spokesman for Save the Bristol Gardens Alliance "not by any means the end of the opposition to this dreadful plan". So what is going to happen next, will have to wait and see.
They should be made to pay all legal costs and then it may make them think before launching any other objections.