So as the historical Bristol Zoo closes its doors on Saturday 3rd September 2022 come with me as I visit the attraction and all the animals for the very last time and say my own personal goodbye.
The zoo will relocate to its new home at the Wild Place Project in Bristol in 2024 and I can't wait to visit and see the new attraction when it opens.
Bristol Zoo is a zoo in the city of Bristol in South West England. The zoo's stated mission is to "maintain and defend” biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world".
The mammal collection at the zoo numbers around 300, representing 50 species, including: gorillas, Asiatic lions, goodfellow's tree-kangaroo, and red pandas. Among species now on view at Bristol which are rare or absent in other UK zoos are Livingstone's fruit bats, aye ayes and quolls.
The zoo's Twilight Zone was the first of its kind when it opened, there are many other indoor exhibits including an insect and reptile house and aquarium meanwhile outside there are several aviaries and a seal and penguin enclosure. The lakes' islands are home to gorillas, golden lion tamarins, golden-headed lion tamarins, gibbons and squirrel monkeys.
The Zoo announced on 27 November 2020 that after more than 185 years its main centre in Clifton would close in late 2022, with its animals moving to its Wild Place Project site close to the M5 motorway and the zoo reopening there in early 2024.