There were big issues, relating to the would-be housing developers plans for the site and disagreements from many local residents over those plans. In response a judicial review was held in May but the outcome has still not been revealed(afaik). Around that time the Society announced that contracts had been signed on the sale, though I can't see how anything could proceed any further until the outcome of the review is settled. In the meantime, the zoo has now been closed and effectively mothballed for three years and one month, with just the Gorillas still in residence though they must leave very shortly now I think.
Bristol Zoo Project Bristol zoo project news 2025
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There were big issues, relating to the would-be housing developers plans for the site and disagreements from many local residents over those plans. In response a judicial review was held in May but the outcome has still not been revealed(afaik). Around that time the Society announced that contracts had been signed on the sale, though I can't see how anything could proceed any further until the outcome of the review is settled. In the meantime, the zoo has now been closed and effectively mothballed for three years and one month, with just the Gorillas still in residence though they must leave very shortly now I think.
The Ectotherm animals that are meant to be going to BZP are also still at the Clifton site...
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
What ectotherms?
Inverts, fish and herptiles. Species wise I know the Partula and Madeiran snail species are still there, Lord Howe I imagine have gone off somewhere as they weren't going to be part of the new species plan.
Further to this: those purportedly presenting alternative plans for the BZS site in Clifton other than a housing project with the original gardens being kept intact as well as the cultural heritage ... left ... and having no clue nor a credible project nor any financial clout to do anything different. How much longer does this BS local opposition need to last and the judicial review is just a joke.
If people in Clifton really want anything different resembling a true environmental repurposing at BZS and surrounding area why not completely obliterate Clifton neighbourhood in the first place and make the entire suburb an SSI nature reserve and sent off all the greenfields brigade elsewhere so we can give back to nature.....
(NOTA BENE: Not seriously ... promoting, but just as a gripe at the stupidity and cluelessness of those opposing the resiting of Bristol Zoo to Wild Place and secondly making sure the new Bristol Zoo will not be viable or a success .....).
This whole judicial review thing is unnecessarily time-consuming and preposterous beyond relief in the first place .... and I do predict the net end result will be ZERO (just like BREXIT did ... so much for the UK).
Charles
Well-Known Member
I believe there are plans for there to be temporary housing for these species near the car park as there’s a planning application related to this on the south glos council website
Paignton may have ‘first dibs’? I dearly hope their wonderful collection can be transferred with the least amount of stress and perhaps Exmoor can take some of the small carnivores?
That was the original plan.
This development won't make Clifton any more diverse (tbf it already has loads of students in the area). It has limited affordable housing contained within and 'affordable' in the context of Bristol prices doesn't mean you're going to be getting Wayne and Waynette Slob moving in next door, anyone affording these properties will still be solidly middle class. It's just reactionary nonsense from people that don't like change and are holding onto the zoo of their childhoods. It's also a shocking indictment of the British planning system that they've managed to hold it up for so long with alternative proposals that have precisely no merit or substance to them.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Correct me if I'm wrong, but whilst BZS have these plans in place and that for the development, there hasn't actually been a sale completed?. They exchanged contracts with The Acorn Group, but the sale has not actually gone through almost a year later it seems, although Acorn do list it on their website as there development.
I assume, the sale is delayed because planning is not yet fully secured? But this must be draining BZS funds given its now 4 years since the old zoo closed. When is this review due to be completed, as I would imagine until it is, any future developments for Wild Place must be on the back burner?
I assume, the sale is delayed because planning is not yet fully secured? But this must be draining BZS funds given its now 4 years since the old zoo closed. When is this review due to be completed, as I would imagine until it is, any future developments for Wild Place must be on the back burner?
Charles
Well-Known Member
It’s only been 3 and a bit years but i would assume when the planning is approved the sale would be almost instant
Also it’s worth saying that the west car park I believe was estimated to be sold for £12 million so I would assume the majority of this went to the African Forest but I would assume the last bits of this sale would be keeping the zoo afloat
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
It's possible Axe Valley might want the zebras- is it just a pair? -to go somewhere with a grass paddock for grazing, which might preclude Paignton perhaps?
Yet again, Bristol are having to deal with break ins and misinformation about the gorillas at the Clifton site. Why would people think that the gorillas are not being looked after????
As you may have seen online, we have been dealing with break-ins at the Bristol Zoo Gardens site, where our gorilla troop remain cared for by their keepers until their new home is ready at Bristol Zoo Project.
The recent online content shares false claims regarding the abandonment of the site and welfare of our gorilla troop, who are cared for by our amazing gorilla team. Unfortunately, members of the press have shared the false story, and the coverage creates more engagement which in turn encourages further break-ins and distress.
We are responding to journalists and individuals online to state the facts regarding the welfare of our gorillas, and will shortly be posting an online film featuring our troop and keepers. We have also taken further extensive measures to secure the gorilla habitat and protect the site.
We know that members and supporters will be frustrated at the headlines, and we have published a blog today which collates some of the information we have shared over the last year about our gorillas. Please take a look and share with anyone who may have concerns.
Thank you for your support.
The blog link:
Bristol Zoo Project
As you may have seen online, we have been dealing with break-ins at the Bristol Zoo Gardens site, where our gorilla troop remain cared for by their keepers until their new home is ready at Bristol Zoo Project.
The recent online content shares false claims regarding the abandonment of the site and welfare of our gorilla troop, who are cared for by our amazing gorilla team. Unfortunately, members of the press have shared the false story, and the coverage creates more engagement which in turn encourages further break-ins and distress.
We are responding to journalists and individuals online to state the facts regarding the welfare of our gorillas, and will shortly be posting an online film featuring our troop and keepers. We have also taken further extensive measures to secure the gorilla habitat and protect the site.
We know that members and supporters will be frustrated at the headlines, and we have published a blog today which collates some of the information we have shared over the last year about our gorillas. Please take a look and share with anyone who may have concerns.
Thank you for your support.
The blog link:
Bristol Zoo Project
For the life of me I cannot understand why it has taken them so long to build the new Gorilla housing. It's now over three years since the zoo closed creating a situation I have never seen before, its quite bizarre. Of course these latest break -ins have produced more complete rubbish about neglect etc but more importantly it is yet more bad publicity for the Zoo, they don't need this. Why didn't they commence building earlier and couldn't they have completed it quicker. Is it simply down to cash and the impasse over the sale of the site?
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GeeZee
Well-Known Member
People are quick to sensationalise and the media is more than happy to capitalise on the fact, I’ve said it before but this country is miles ahead most in terms of animal welfare and yet here we are with a non story.
On the other hand though, from the footage it does appear that the old zoo looks relatively unchanged & combined with the fact that the gorilla enclosure at the new enclosure is nowhere near finished seems to indicate to me that perhaps the old site was closed prematurely.
I've heard this 'non-news' bulletin repeated even on my local radio station this morning so its been taken up as 'news' by a lot of media outlets, probably just because the words 'gorillas' and 'old zoo' are contained in it.
To my knowledge the zoo is basically just mothballed, probably even rather overgrown in some parts? That they have to keep repeating the mantra that there are keepers in daily attendance to the gorillas' needs, plus visits by vets, researchers(?) et al. seems necessary under the circumstances to refute the wild suggestions of neglect, but generally some people will still think the worst and presume there is something shady about all this- there isn't, just a ridiculously long delay in rehousing them. Knowing they wanted them at the new zoo, couldn't they have started the build perhaps even before they closed, or at least when they did so? Whereas it was delayed for a long time afterwards, was this simply due to the over-riding shortfall in funds created by non-sale problems?
Now I know that obviously high spec. ape accomodation is very expensive and time consuming to build, but I still don't really understood the full reasons for the delay that caused this fiasco. While the weather was certainly perfect all this summer to speed up the building. They keep insisting the gorillas will move 'soon', currently it seems to be variously 'in a few weeks' or 'by the end of the year.' The latest aerial video seems to show the new outdoor area at least is not finished.
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GeeZee
Well-Known Member
That’s my point, it’s a non story - the media are making it into something it’s not, it’s all emotional.
I last visited BZP in July and the area where the gorilla enclosure had partly closed off areas and dug trenches but didn’t resemble anything like an enclosure or how it’s suppose to, I’d be suprised much got done in August but I’ll try and visit again soon.
What was more disappointing though was when BZ closed they seem to suggest that more animals were going to go to BZP/WP from BZ that has been the case.