Home / Environment / Abandoned Bristol Zoo Harbors Captive Gorillas, Raising Concerns
Abandoned Bristol Zoo Harbors Captive Gorillas, Raising Concerns
17 Oct
Summary
- Gorillas still living in Bristol Zoo 3 years after closure
- Trespassers able to freely access the site with no security
- Gorillas' new enclosure at Bristol Zoo Project remains unfinished
In a concerning development, a troop of gorillas has been discovered still living inside the long-shuttered Bristol Zoo, three years after the facility closed its doors to the public. Footage has emerged showing the apes pressing against the glass of their enclosure, with a visitor claiming they were able to simply "walk straight in" without encountering any staff or security.
The explorer who filmed the video says they spent several hours inside the abandoned zoo, with no barriers or guards in sight. They insist they did not break in or climb over any fences, but rather accessed the site through the staff entrance. The individual expressed frustration with the zoo's lack of transparency, stating that the public deserves to know what is happening to the captive animals.
Despite the zoo's claims that it has "stepped up security" due to a number of break-ins, the explorer alleges they could have even "opened the enclosure" if they had wanted to. The zoo has confirmed that the gorilla troop is scheduled to move to their new African Forest habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project in the coming months, but the new enclosure remains unfinished.
This situation has raised serious concerns about the welfare and safety of the gorillas, who have been subjected to repeated disturbances and loud alarms that have reportedly had a "really distressing" impact on them. The zoo has been criticized in the past for continuing to house the western lowland gorillas in captivity while their new home remains incomplete.
