Bristol Zoo to close

8 replies

PrawnofthePatriarchy · 16/02/2022 14:01

I was shocked to see in yesterday's Telegraph that the zoo is closing on September 3rd. I grew up in Bath and was taken on outings to the zoo throughout my childhood. More recently my parents bought membership and took all their GC when they visited. We all enjoyed the zoo so much.

I feel really sad to hear this news. Bristol Zoo is such a lovely place with very attractive buildings. 90 million people have visited the zoo since 1836 and it has helped save 175 species from extinction.

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heldinadream · 16/02/2022 14:08

It is indeed sad but they are actually going to relocate and part of the reason behind it is apparently wanting to do better for the animals, zoo ideas having evolved massively since the original site was established. But yes no zoo in Bristol itself will be a huge loss to the city and Bristol families.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 16/02/2022 14:09

We love the zoo but do feel it’s outdated for the animals now, we’ve been going weekly for years and will miss it. Apparently a lot of the building will stay as will the green, and will have open access to the public!

BrieAndChilli · 16/02/2022 14:10

its moving over the the same site as The Wild Project which is owned by the zoo. so will still exist in some form.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 16/02/2022 14:36

@BrieAndChilli

When you talk to them though it seems only the gorillas are moving across

Original poster

PrawnofthePatriarchy · 16/02/2022 19:28

Apparently a lot of the building will stay as will the green, and will have open access to the public!

Well that's good news. And if part of the reason behind it is apparently wanting to do better for the animals then that's good news too. But I don't know how much better the facilities can be than the current seal and penguin enclosure.

I've moved back to the area to care for my DM who is now bed bound. She has an electric wheelchair we're getting used to so maybe we'll be able to sort out a visit before September. DM is 94 and remembers being able to ride the elephant when she was a child.

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BrieAndChilli · 16/02/2022 19:54

My friends mum was a teacher and took her class there - one of the kids took a penguin home in his rucksack!!!! Obviously a long time ago when security was more lax!

Original poster

PrawnofthePatriarchy · 16/02/2022 22:22

OMG! That reminds me of a good story. When DH was on tour many years ago (he was a sound engineer) they visited Berlin Zoo. Later they found one of the crew had stolen a penguin and smuggled it into their five star hotel room. They caught him playing with it in his bathroom.

It took a while but eventually they managed to persuade their colleague to take the poor penguin home. The cops caught the bloke trying to break into the zoo, found the penguin in his bag, and administered a hefty on the spot fine.

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MrsMoastyToasty · 16/02/2022 23:34

It holds a lifetime of memories for me. As a child we always used to go with my dad on Boxing Day (I'm not sure why, but it was a tradition). Going again in the summer and having picnics on the lawns. Attending wedding receptions there and team building days. Taking my son there when he was small...
Watching Johnny Morris on Animal Magic doing all the voices for each animal, then seeing Dottie the ring tailed lemur in real life.

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