Bristol Zoo (Closed) Bristol Zoo news 2013

[Pertinax]

Can anyone confirm whether the De Brazza monkeys have in fact left/are no longer on display at Bristol? Looking on their website they are still listed, but Drills, which they do have, are not, so it could just not have been updated recently.

In the 'Gorilla Diary' section it mentions young female 'Namoki' as 'coming out of oestrus' so they must presumably be taking measures to prevent breeding with her father now.

 

[OrangePerson]

Can anyone confirm whether the De Brazza monkeys have in fact left/are no longer on display at Bristol? Looking on their website they are still listed,

I thought they'd gone to a sanctuary. I may have been jumping to conclusions but Porfell Wildlife Park & Sanctuary came by 2 unwanted zoo De Brazza monkeys about the time there was discussion about the Bristol ones not being on show. Sorry if I was wrong Bristol!

 

[Pertinax]

For once, I have moderated a discussion deriving from my own posts, as I have no wish to stir up dissent on this page and am not 100% sure Bristol's De Brazzas are the ones at Porfell. I think it is best left like that.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

For once, I have moderated a discussion deriving from my own posts, as I have no wish to stir up dissent on this page and am not 100% sure Bristol's De Brazzas are the ones at Porfell. I think it is best left like that.

There's always a first time for anything

 

[Nisha]

The "lovely news" has finally been revealed.... and it's a pair of Asian Lion cubs!

A lasting tribute to Kamal.....

Statement from Bristol's Facebook:

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Good to hear confirmation of this, and that the cubs are doing well.

 

[Ned]

Parts of Bugworld are undergoing an ‘exciting refurbishment’. These parts are the coral / marine hall, where new tanks are being installed, and the area beyond the bees / black widow spider. The only species mentioned is the upside down jellyfish so not that exciting.
A Mediterranean chameleon caught my eye in the reptile house, I haven’t noticed it before.
I also had the opportunity to observe the eider ducks in the penguin pool mating. It was interesting to watch, the female was swimming with her body flattened, her head and neck out stretched and her bill resting on the waters surface. She was vocalizing while the male was circling her. He spent several minutes circling before he decided she was suitably wooed, he then climbed on her back, his body weight pushing her below the waters surface. Copulation lasted maybe ten seconds after which the male went ashore and preened while the female stayed in the water and preened.

 

[tetrapod]

Parts of Bugworld are undergoing an ‘exciting refurbishment’. These parts are the coral / marine hall, where new tanks are being installed, and the area beyond the bees / black widow spider. The only species mentioned is the upside down jellyfish so not that exciting.

This would be a positive step, as the current set-up is very dated and pretty shabby (for Bristol Zoo). Poor visibility into many displays means that (certainly on my last visit) many visitors fly through the whole building seeing very little.

 

[Tunanta]

Just seen a comment on the zoo's facebook (by the zoo themselves) in reply to a question about the NWCP that they are planning on opening a new attraction this summer and that information will be available in the near future-I'm guessing that's a way of avoiding answering about the NWCP but any ideas on what the new attraction might be? Could it just be connected to teh bugworld revamp or something more? Looks like dinozoo will be back up and running fairly soon-they are advertising for dino rangers already.

 

[frubeinatube]

The new attraction is 'Wild Place' which will be at the Hollywood site.

Taken from BZG website;
In the summer of 2013 a new and exciting conservation park will be opening near Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, called Wild Place.

Since the granting of planning consent for the National Wildlife Conservation Park in 2010, Bristol Zoo has been seeking ways in which development towards this spectacular, world-class visitor attraction can begin. Wild Place is the first step towards the development of NWCP and is set to welcome 100,000 visitors over the course of its first year.

Wild Place is an open space, comprised of natural beauty that utilises the existing woodlands and environment. Subject to planning, guests will be able to go on several different woodland walks, discovering flora and fauna as they go, take a glimpse into eco-systems from around the world including a Madagascar walkthrough, which will be home to several lemurs and an East-African Savannah with zebras and eland roaming in the grassland.

Once families have had a healthy dose of wildlife and nature they can burn off any excess energy in an indoor playbarn and enjoy refreshments from the café.

This family-led attraction will focus on fun, play and learning; with children and adults being inspired to protect threatened habitats on their doorsteps and around the globe, all for an affordable cost of around £20 for a family of four.

‘Wild Place is the first step on a fantastic journey towards creating the ultimate vision of a world-class attraction and Europe’s only conservation park,’ says Dr Bryan Carroll. ‘Bristol Zoo is proud and excited to take that first step this summer in the form of Wild Place.’

‘Drawing on Bristol Zoo's extensive experience in managing conservation projects on a worldwide basis and on the resources of the well regarded management of our local zoo, plans are advancing on all fronts for this new park: content and design, construction, operation and financing. We have specialists working for us both in London and Bristol to realise all aspects of the park, which aims to educate a wide population about the important of conservation in a highly appealing, innovative and interactive environment.’

Dinozoo is also back in March until September if I remember rightly!

 

[Al]

In another article I read that okapi and red river hog will also be present as a third ecosystem!

 

[frubeinatube]

Yeah the Okapi are going to Hollywood at some point, which means we'll hopefully get the cassowary back!

 

[Nisha]

Asian Lioness, Shiva was returned to Besancon. This just leaves her cubs in Bristol now

 

[IanRRobinson]

The new attraction is 'Wild Place' which will be at the Hollywood site.

Taken from BZG website;
In the summer of 2013 a new and exciting conservation park will be opening near Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, called Wild Place.

Since the granting of planning consent for the National Wildlife Conservation Park in 2010, Bristol Zoo has been seeking ways in which development towards this spectacular, world-class visitor attraction can begin. Wild Place is the first step towards the development of NWCP and is set to welcome 100,000 visitors over the course of its first year.

Wild Place is an open space, comprised of natural beauty that utilises the existing woodlands and environment. Subject to planning, guests will be able to go on several different woodland walks, discovering flora and fauna as they go, take a glimpse into eco-systems from around the world including a Madagascar walkthrough, which will be home to several lemurs and an East-African Savannah with zebras and eland roaming in the grassland.

Once families have had a healthy dose of wildlife and nature they can burn off any excess energy in an indoor playbarn and enjoy refreshments from the café.

This family-led attraction will focus on fun, play and learning; with children and adults being inspired to protect threatened habitats on their doorsteps and around the globe, all for an affordable cost of around £20 for a family of four.

‘Wild Place is the first step on a fantastic journey towards creating the ultimate vision of a world-class attraction and Europe’s only conservation park,’ says Dr Bryan Carroll. ‘Bristol Zoo is proud and excited to take that first step this summer in the form of Wild Place.’

‘Drawing on Bristol Zoo's extensive experience in managing conservation projects on a worldwide basis and on the resources of the well regarded management of our local zoo, plans are advancing on all fronts for this new park: content and design, construction, operation and financing. We have specialists working for us both in London and Bristol to realise all aspects of the park, which aims to educate a wide population about the important of conservation in a highly appealing, innovative and interactive environment.’

Dinozoo is also back in March until September if I remember rightly!

I do find Bristol's unwillingness to call their new site a zoo or wildlife park a bit ridiculous. Just what will somebody driving along the M4/M5 interchange think that sign is directing them towards?

 

[Shirokuma]

I do find Bristol's unwillingness to call their new site a zoo or wildlife park a bit ridiculous. Just what will somebody driving along the M4/M5 interchange think that sign is directing them towards?

I agree - 'Europe's only conservation park'? What on earth does that mean? Bristol have gone down in my estimations, like Port Lympne and Howlett's 'we're not like zoos'.

 

[gentle lemur]

Bristol are playing the name game again. Wasn't the previous plan to call Hollywood Towers something like the National Conservation Centre? I remember mildly ranting about it at the time, but I'm too lazy to find the old thread to check. I guess it's partly to compete with 'Noah's Ark', and the pricing seems to be aiming in that direction too.

Alan

 

[Pertinax]

Bristol are playing the name game again. Wasn't the previous plan to call Hollywood Towers something like the National Conservation Centre? I remember mildly ranting about it at the time, but I'm too lazy to find the old thread to check. I guess it's partly to compete with 'Noah's Ark', and the pricing seems to be aiming in that direction too.

My guess is while its in the early stages, with only a limited number of animals on display and woodland walks etc also pushed as an attraction, they can't really call it a 'conservation centre'(or similar) and had to choose something more simplistic. But the format with the Playbarn etc does rather remind me of Noah's Ark too., though Bristol always build very well so I would expect quality exhibits, whatever they are.

Whether it ever develops into the full-blown 'conservation park' with all the complex exhibits as they originally envisaged, remains to be seen. If it draws in many visitors as it is in the early phases, they might be content to leave it like that, or alternativetly be stimulated to develop further.

 

[pipaluk]

My guess is while its in the early stages, with only a limited number of animals on display and woodland walks etc also pushed as an attraction, they can't really call it a 'conservation centre'(or similar) and had to choose something more simplistic. But the format with the Playbarn etc does rather remind me of Noah's Ark too., though Bristol always build very well so I would expect quality exhibits, whatever they are.

Whether it ever develops into the full-blown 'conservation park' with all the complex exhibits as they originally envisaged, remains to be seen. If it draws in many visitors as it is in the early phases, they might be content to leave it like that, or alternativetly be stimulated to develop further.

I think you are probably right about the naming. To call it a zoo might raise peoples expectations of what they might see- whilst there are only a handful of species, it may be for the best. I'm sure it's not for the 'Aspinall reasons'.

 

[pipaluk]

Yeah the Okapi are going to Hollywood at some point, which means we'll hopefully get the cassowary back!

I personally think it will be a shame for Bristol Zoo to be without Okapi, given their long association with them. For many years they were the only UK holder i believe , until London got them in the late 70s(possibly 1980 i cant remember exactly).

 

[IanRRobinson]

I personally think it will be a shame for Bristol Zoo to be without Okapi, given their long association with them. For many years they were the only UK holder i believe , until London got them in the late 70s(possibly 1980 i cant remember exactly).

True, but the space needed to do gorillas really well is basically where the Okapi were. Bristol just hasn't got the space for ungulates, unless it's something small. Groups of Dorcas Gazelle and Warty Pigs would tick their checklist pretty well, IMO.