Bristol Zoo to close its doors after 186 years as animals forced to move on

Operated by Bristol Zoological Society, the zoo will close for the public on September 3, and all the animals will be moved to a new location in Bristol. In a previous appeal for donations last year, Dr Morris had stated that the pandemic and the time that the zoo remained closed “has had a devastating effect on our financial position.”

He added: “To safeguard the future of the Society and build upon our 185 years of conservation heritage, the decision was taken last November to close our Clifton site in late 2022.”

Money from the sale will help pay for the development of the new Bristol Zoo which will be built at the Society’s Wild Place Project, by junction 17 of the M5 Motorway.

All the animals will be moved there and the new Bristol Zoo is due to open in 2024.

During the summer and until the closing date, the zoo has planned a series of events for the local community, which will be announced on its website.

During these events, visitors will be able to “share their memories of the zoo and wander around our award-winning grounds,” the announcement read.

Bristol Zoological Society Chief Executive Dr Justin Morris said: “Bristol Zoo Gardens is a special place for so many people and we want to give them a chance to come, to see our animals and the gardens and to talk about their memories.”

According to the organisation, the 12-acre site will be sold and subsequently turned into housing accommodations with planning permission for “sustainable homes set in beautiful gardens”.

The remaining area will be turned into an open-to-the-public park, with a children’s playground that will be created on the location, while the famous “Monkey Temple” building will remain as is.

source: express.co.uk