Duke Prepares Gorilla Grub at New Zoo Habitat

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, recently visited the Bristol Zoo Project, preparing food for the resident troop of western lowland gorillas. His visit on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, preceded the public opening of the zoo's new African forest habitat in April. This initiative is part of a program to reintroduce the gorillas to visitors before the Easter holidays.

The gorillas have remained at the Bristol Zoo Gardens site since its closure in 2022, cared for by keepers until their new, immersive habitat was completed. Small groups of guests are now being gradually welcomed, with numbers set to increase significantly.

As patron of the Bristol Zoological Society since 2013, Prince Edward also met with volunteers, conservationists, and keepers. He emphasized the critical importance of habitats for endangered animals, noting that habitat destruction is a primary threat. The new African forest area features critically endangered species like western lowland gorillas, cherry-crowned mangabeys, slender-snouted crocodiles, and African grey parrots.

Justin Morris, chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society, described the project as a conservation effort rather than a typical zoo. The site is being developed as an immersive conservation zoo with large, naturalistic habitats designed for wildlife, allowing visitors to observe interspecies interactions similar to those in the wild.