Bristol Zoo Project Bristol zoo project news 2025

Charles said:
Bristol Zoo Project

there are 8 rescued African greys, they’ve included a cute picture of them in the article as well
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It is so amazing to see a flock of grey parrots AND in an aviary where they can be fully flighted. Here in the Sates we only have three AZA facilities that have more than just a pair: Charles Paddock Zoo (5), Fort Wayne Zoo (4), and Columbus Zoo & Aquarium (8). I wish more zoos would house their parrots in more socially appropriate settings and naturalistic habitats. I for one am so over the norm here which is a lone parrot as an ambassador animal living in a cage on par with most home pets.
 
Gulls86 said:
There's a certain PR issue at play because of the highly publicised and contentious move from Clifton, which was pushed on the basis that the charity would earn substantial profit from selling it's Clifton site, that would be pumped into developing the new site.

While I'm sure the funding for the new development has all been underwritten by the sale of the Clifton site (pending judicial review) and the fundraising is just additional revenue, like loads of zoos do when they build new enclosures. It's not a good look given the background of the closure of the Clifton site, nor has the fundraising effort being that highly publicised - probably in recognition of this fact.
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Exactly, the politically correct narrative that people seem to pander to. What really does not look good is/was the underlying issue with old Bristol Zoo at Clifton: Economically unviable in this day and age. The Society is/was just unable to have the boat float above water at the Clifton site and unable to create a modern state of the art here .... Too small, too surrounded by impossibles - greenfields with no mode of expansion .... lest we flatten Clifton built up area (goodness forbid that would ever happen).

Mind You: I say this even though I have fond memories of the place ...., it just was a dead-end in the long run, It is high time that people in Bristol and far and wide come off their high horses to realise the reality of things in this modern day and age of running a zoo without much Municipal or County support, the lack of expansion mode, the need to rethink and redevelop the Bristol Zoo with all its modern challenges and to be the first rate conservation cum education oriented facility a Bristol Zoo should be (and for all intense purposes NAFZ certainly aint that ..., even though some MOR folks flock to the site to see the ABC's, but ... only NAFZ is not a conservation, education nor public awareness ... zoo but an attraction only. The latter of which really is the blood, body and works of the Bristol Zoo Society and its zoological facility off-shoot(s)).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Exactly, the politically correct narrative that people seem to pander to. What really does not look good is/was the underlying issue with old Bristol Zoo at Clifton: Economically unviable in this day and age. The Society is/was just unable to have the boat float above water at the Clifton site and unable to create a modern state of the art here .... Too small, too surrounded by impossibles - greenfields with no mode of expansion .... lest we flatten Clifton built up area (goodness forbid that would ever happen).

Mind You: I say this even though I have fond memories of the place ...., it just was a dead-end in the long run, It is high time that people in Bristol and far and wide come off their high horses to realise the reality of things in this modern day and age of running a zoo without much Municipal or County support, the lack of expansion mode, the need to rethink and redevelop the Bristol Zoo with all its modern challenges and to be the first rate conservation cum education oriented facility a Bristol Zoo should be (and for all intense purposes NAFZ certainly aint that ..., even though some MOR folks flock to the site to see the ABC's, but ... only NAFZ is not a conservation, education nor public awareness ... zoo but an attraction only. The latter of which really is the blood, body and works of the Bristol Zoo Society and its zoological facility off-shoot(s)).
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The bold above is simply not true. I have no connection in any way with Noah's Ark Farm, but to obtain a zoo licence in the UK (which it needs to operate as it has non-domestic animals on display for more than 7 days each year) it must do ALL of these. NO UK zoo is an attraction only, ALL have to meet standards in the other areas too.
It may not be the same in The Netherlands, I dont know, but please check the situation in other countries before making such blanket statements.
 
zoocentral said:
It is so amazing to see a flock of grey parrots AND in an aviary where they can be fully flighted. Here in the Sates we only have three AZA facilities that have more than just a pair: Charles Paddock Zoo (5), Fort Wayne Zoo (4), and Columbus Zoo & Aquarium (8). I wish more zoos would house their parrots in more socially appropriate settings and naturalistic habitats. I for one am so over the norm here which is a lone parrot as an ambassador animal living in a cage on par with most home pets.
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I completely agree. One of my most vivid memories from living in Ghana 50 years ago is riding pillion on a motor bike through the forest near Kumasi as a flock of thousands of grey parrots flew overhead: the range of noises they made was indescribable. I fear that no-one could do the same anywhere today.
 
gentle lemur said:
I completely agree. One of my most vivid memories from living in Ghana 50 years ago is riding pillion on a motor bike through the forest near Kumasi as a flock of thousands of grey parrots flew overhead: the range of noises they made was indescribable. I fear that no-one could do the same anywhere today.
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If the Bristol ones are ex-rescue birds, from various backgrounds, I wonder if they will flock together or not? I wish they had 20 rather than 8 but its a start.
 
Pertinax said:
If the Bristol ones are ex-rescue birds, from various backgrounds, I wonder if they will flock together or not? I wish they had 20 rather than 8 but its a start.
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From what I could see (behind bamboo mesh fencing) it looked like they were near eachother and in the picture the zoo attached they were

They originally planned to just have 3 pairs but to grow to roughly 20 individuals eventually so time will tell
 
Charles said:
From what I could see (behind bamboo mesh fencing) it looked like they were near eachother and in the picture the zoo attached they were

They originally planned to just have 3 pairs but to grow to roughly 20 individuals eventually so time will tell
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The fact they devote space to a now seriously threatened West African grey parrot subspecies ... (compare this to say 25-30 years ago when wildlife trade and forest destruction had not yet had this much impact) and one of the "lesser" attractive psittacine species.
 
Charles said:
From what I could see (behind bamboo mesh fencing) it looked like they were near eachother and in the picture the zoo attached they were

They originally planned to just have 3 pairs but to grow to roughly 20 individuals eventually so time will tell
Click to expand...

Are they living in temporary accomodation at present?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
The fact they devote space to a now seriously threatened West African grey parrot subspecies ... (compare this to say 25-30 years ago when wildlife trade and forest destruction had not yet had this much impact) and one of the "lesser" attractive psittacine species.
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Not so unattractive... This parrot, albeit mostly grey, used to be popular as a "talking" cage bird (that is a primary decline driver).
It's a good bird to show the intelligence of birds and the issues with wild bird trade.
 
Haliaeetus said:
Not so unattractive... This parrot, albeit mostly grey, used to be popular as a "talking" cage bird (that is a primary decline driver).
It's a good bird to show the intelligence of birds and the issues with wild bird trade.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing unattractive in the sense that they often seem a rather drab grey, as opposed to the average macaw that wouldn't look too out of place at a rave.

I've always found them rather pretty personally, especially healthy individuals with a truly crimson tail, but I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of zoo visitors don't even realise they're parrots. They are rather unassuming but as you say they're excellent for showing avian intelligence

I'm glad BZS have committed to them, looking forward to seeing them on show alongside the rest of the West African species
 
Haliaeetus said:
Not so unattractive... This parrot, albeit mostly grey, used to be popular as a "talking" cage bird (that is a primary decline driver).
It's a good bird to show the intelligence of birds and the issues with wild bird trade.
Click to expand...
I was merely quoting opinions that are not my own ... where psittacines are measures by the wild colourations rather than the grey parrots where their tail feathers stand out. I personally find them both attractive and rather handsome.
 
A mixture of information

the zoo has released a teaser of what’s going to be in the tropical house, I’m not too eagle eyed so not too sure of what birds are what but this is the link to it Bristol Zoo Project on Instagram: "VERY soon... Can you guess what it is?"

as well when I visited yesterday there was a transportation box in the ostrich and goat enclosure, not too sure why
 
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