THE “world’s loneliest” gorillas have been discovered inside an abandoned UK zoo that shut more than three years ago.
Urban explorers found the apes stuck behind glass in their enclosure at Bristol Zoo – which closed to the public in September 2022.
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One of the gorillas, still in its enclosure, taps on the glass to grab the visitor’s attentionCredit: SWNS
Aerial view of the Gorilla enclosure at Bristol ZooCredit: SWNS
Heartbreaking footage shows one of the gorillas tapping against the window as it desperately tries to get the visitor’s attention.
The abandoned enclosure, which houses eight gorillas, is overrun with plants and surrounded by empty visitor buildings.
In the shocking clip, the camera pans to a number of the great apes as they gaze longingly out of the windows.
The post is captioned: “Bristol zoo: what are you hiding?
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“What is it you don’t want everyone to know? These gorillas should never be in here.”
The Bristol Zoological Society assured concerned animal lovers that the gorillas are tended to every day by expert keepers.
It said it was doing “everything we can to protect the welfare of the troop” ahead of a move to the Bristol Zoo Project in a few months’ time.
In January, it was confirmed security had been stepped up at the site after a number of break-in attempts were made.
The zoo claimed social media posts were spreading “misinformation”, adding that the animals were being looked after in suitable conditions.
Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, slammed trespassers at the zoo.
He said: “Since July 2024 our former Bristol Zoo Gardens site has been targeted by trespassers.
“We take these incidents extremely seriously and the care and welfare of our animals is always our top priority.
“Our heightened security has ensured recent trespassers haven’t been able to get near the gorillas.
“But each time it happens, and alarms are set off, it causes the troop distress. It is frustrating for us to see these videos.
“The trespassers who broke into our site put animals at risk and have no knowledge of animal care and welfare.”
The trespasser claimed the footage was taken after spending “several hours at the zoo”.
They added: “I, like many others, didn’t understand what was going on. Bristol zoo aren’t very transparent at all.
“It’s in the public interest to be transparent… that’s why there is so much public attention – no one could care if they were honest.”
A new site is being developed by the Bristol Zoological Society at the existing Wild Place Project site, which is now called the Bristol Zoo Project.
The troop is reportedly due to move to their African Forest habitat in the new zoo in the coming months.
Their new home will be four and a half times bigger and is based on the forests of Equatorial Guinea.
But wildlife charity Born Free slammed the zoo for keeping the gorillas in their enclosure despite closing down the site.
In a report, it said: “Despite closing its doors in September 2022, the former Bristol Zoo site in the UK has continued to house western lowland gorillas…
“… while work on their enclosure at the new Bristol Zoo Project awaits completion.
“Since the old site’s closure, there have been a series of public break-ins, putting health and safety of both the intruders and the gorillas at risk.
“The repeated disturbances and loud alarms have reportedly had ‘really distressing’ impacts on the gorillas.”
Last year, a dead tree in the gorilla enclosure was ordered to be removed over fears some of the animals could escape.
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The Wotton Tree Consultancy said the tree posed a “bridging risk”, allowing the apes to climb out.
It also posed the danger of damaging the enclosure’s electric fencing, which could also have led to an escape.
Urban explorers found the apes stuck behind glass in their enclosure at Bristol ZooCredit: SWNS
