Bristol Zoo (Closed) Bristol Zoo News 2022

[dillotest0]

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As a start to the ‘Big Summer Send-off’ event, a large gorilla sculpture, with the imaginative name of ‘Wilder’, and her child, ‘Monty Alan’, has arrived to the zoo. The sculpture also apparently comes with a ‘special surprise’ to help zoo guests cool off.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Hi all,do you think the,Western Lowland,Gorilla Family will be on public view prior to The Wild Place’s official rebranding to Bristol Zoo? I ask as Gorillas are a senomnous species for Bristol. In fact Bristol housed Alfred the UK’s first captive Gorilla. The future Gorilla Enclosure is still there in some capacity. I understand it requires a radical redevelopment,but at least the footprint is there. When you think about it a house can be built from the ground up in less than a year. This fills me with optimism that Jock and his Family will be visible at the latest by August 2023. Do you think my timescale is realistic? A key reason why the completion of the Gorilla Enclosure should be a priority,is that Bristol’s Gorillas are the only Family group in the South West. Bar Bristol the nearest Gorilla Family is at both of the sites owned by Daimian Aspinall.

I have been to Bristol Zoo many times and the Gorillas were a personal highlight. I love Gorillas and Bristol is the only place I have seen a Family group. I must admit I’m gutted that the Asiatic Lions will not be moving to The Wild Place.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Could I ask what the situation is with Kamran the Asiatic Lion? The last I heard Kamran had been exported to Tehran Zoo and was being abused and had caught a deadly illness named feline viral rhinotracheitis. I have worried about his welfare since his predicament became public knowledge. On another note is it known which Zoo Bristol’s current pair of Asiatic Lion’s will be moving to,following the closure of the current Bristol Zoo?

 

[Charles]

Hi all,do you think the,Western Lowland,Gorilla Family will be on public view prior to The Wild Place’s official rebranding to Bristol Zoo? I ask as Gorillas are a senomnous species for Bristol. In fact Bristol housed Alfred the UK’s first captive Gorilla. The future Gorilla Enclosure is still there in some capacity. I understand it requires a radical redevelopment,but at least the footprint is there. When you think about it a house can be built from the ground up in less than a year. This fills me with optimism that Jock and his Family will be visible at the latest by August 2023. Do you think my timescale is realistic? A key reason why the completion of the Gorilla Enclosure should be a priority,is that Bristol’s Gorillas are the only Family group in the South West. Bar Bristol the nearest Gorilla Family is at both of the sites owned by Daimian Aspinall.

I have been to Bristol Zoo many times and the Gorillas were a personal highlight. I love Gorillas and Bristol is the only place I have seen a Family group. I must admit I’m gutted that the Asiatic Lions will not be moving to The Wild Place.

I think they will do this with all the species, I believe it is too risky to miss a summer season and as some enclosures like the conservation breeding centre and Gorillas won’t take as long, I think they will open sooner than larger scale projects like the black rhinoceros paddocks or the unannounced habitats that are on the plans

 

[Tim May]

In fact Bristol housed Alfred the UK’s first captive Gorilla.

"Alfred" was not the UK's first captive gorilla.
London Zoo acquired its first gorilla in 1887 and Wombwell's Menagerie had a gorilla circa 1855

 

[Jambo]

Could I ask what the situation is with Kamran the Asiatic Lion?

He's still at Tehran although unfortunately the pair haven't experienced any breeding success yet. He's now known as Herman over there.

nd was being abused and had caught a deadly illness named feline viral rhinotracheitis.

Abused? That's a fairly heavy allegation your making there. It appears you've been ready some of those activist articles.

On another note is it known which Zoo Bristol’s current pair of Asiatic Lion’s will be moving to,following the closure of the current Bristol Zoo?

They'll likely be moved to the planned new Bristol Zoo, and will probably be held at the Wild Place in the meantime.

 

[Pertinax]

Bar Bristol the nearest Gorilla Family is at both of the sites owned by Daimian Aspinall.

Both Chessington and London Zoo are nearer to Bristol than Port Lympne. Also Twycross(slightly).

 

[Pertinax]

They'll likely be moved to the planned new Bristol Zoo, and will probably be held at the Wild Place in the meantime.

That's not happening unfortunately.

 

[Jambo]

That's not happening unfortunately.

Where do you think they'll go?

 

[Pertinax]

Where do you think they'll go?

No Idea. I think they should keep them but they aren't apparently.

 

[Keelan]

Could the pair of lions perhaps go to dudley zoo. As far as I'm aware this is to only UK collection currently without a male lion. I'm aware that they have 2 older females but could this be made into a pride of 4. Other than this I have no idea where they could go other than overseas

 

[Charles]

Abused? That's a fairly heavy allegation your making there. It appears you've been ready some of those activist articles.

there are plenty of articles that support it and those”activist articles” help animals get free from zoos that abuse animal welfare laws

 

[Jambo]

Could the pair of lions perhaps go to dudley zoo. As far as I'm aware this is to only UK collection currently without a male lion. I'm aware that they have 2 older females but could this be made into a pride of 4. Other than this I have no idea where they could go other than overseas

That's a possibility, although this won't be a breeding group as Dudley have two elderly females.

 

[J C]

Could the pair of lions perhaps go to dudley zoo. As far as I'm aware this is to only UK collection currently without a male lion. I'm aware that they have 2 older females but could this be made into a pride of 4. Other than this I have no idea where they could go other than overseas

My moneys on blackpool and there current lion staying at whipsnade once there new housing is finished towards the end of the year

 

[Keelan]

Khari will be moving back to Blackpool once the enclosure is complete. I'm sure they will be keen to have him and his new pride return because he is a favourite amongst the visitors and staff considering he was born there and his childhood story

 

[Panthera1981]

My moneys on blackpool and there current lion staying at whipsnade once there new housing is finished towards the end of the year

Irrespective of the sentimentality attached towards Blackpool, this would make a lot of sense, solving the problems of any stress-related movements and the “Rent-A-Lion” situation that Whipsnade currently find themselves in.

 

[TNT]

Until anything is confirmed by the zoo regarding the future of the lions, we can only guess. Let's just wait and see what's announced

 

[Swampy]

People waiting to see what's announced, rather than wildly speculating? In a Bristol Zoo thread? That'll be the day

 

[Charles]

People waiting to see what's announced, rather than wildly speculating? In a Bristol Zoo thread? That'll be the day

Personally I think we should speculate more lol

 

[The Hedgehog]

I think the best outcome for the Asiatic Lions would be to move to Wild Place. The Lions are a big draw for punters and the Asiatic subspecies is critically endangered. If there were 10 Species that brought guests to Bristol Zoo the Asiatic Lions would be 1 of them.