Work due to start on major tourist attraction next year
Work is set to start on one of the South West’s biggest tourist attractions early next year.
The announcement that work will start on the new Bristol Zoo site was announced on the day new images of the site were published.
The decision to close the historic zoo in Clifton has been met with a wall of criticism.
Bristol Zoo closed its doors in September after 186 years. It was one of the oldest zoos in the world.
A planning application to build houses on the site has been lodged with Bristol City Council despite local opposition.
But the zoo is pressing ahead with plans to open a new site close to the M5 motorway in South Gloucestershire.
Worked is expected to start in 2024 and will be phased over a number of years.
It has been confirmed that 50 species will move from Bristol Zoo Gardens to the new site, including the blue-eyed black lemurs, the lemur leaf frog and the Corfu killifish.
These will be joined by new additions from other zoos and aquariums around the world, such as two black rhinoceros, north African red-necked ostrich and grevy’s zebra.
Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “We’ve developed our animal species plan so that we can really focus our resources on animals that most need our help and maximise the impact we make to the conservation of wildlife.”
Chief executive Dr Justin Morris added: “We’re excited to share these images of the new Bristol Zoo.
“They show how animals will have the space to thrive and future generations will come face-to-face with amazing animals in nature, as well as learn more about our charity’s critical conservation and education work to protect at-risk species and habitats.”
