Jock the Gorilla Turns to Showbiz for Bristol Zoo Gardens

Keep your eyes peeled, as Bristol Zoo Garden’s launches an exciting new campaign.

Jock, a 32-stone silverback gorilla, will be the star of Bristol Zoo Garden’s new visual campaign.

Giant images of the impressive primate will be popping-up on the side of double-decker buses around Bristol, and a large billboard at Temple Meads train station.

The project celebrates the Zoo’s fantastic new £1.6 million gorilla house - which is more than twice the size of the original house.

Boasting an impressive new atrium-style glass entrance, allowing guests a 180 degree view of the gorillas walking above, the new house is a world-leading example of a modern gorilla enclosure. It’s not just the visitors who will benefit, the Zoo’s youngest gorilla, two-year-old Kukena, can be seen using the glass to slide on and perform roly polys.

The construction of the house was no easy challenge – the glass used is over 5cm thick and able to withstand the force of a small car travelling at 30mph - this is the same as the whole family of gorillas charging at it.

Wendy Walton, director of commercial operations at Bristol Zoo, explains: “We decided to undertake the renovation to improve the wellbeing of the gorillas and provide additional space for our growing family, as well as greatly enhancing visitor viewing of these magnificent animals.”

She added: “We are very proud of our newest exhibit and so it was an obvious choice to make it the focus of our summer campaign this year. We are confident that the public will love coming to visit our family of gorillas in their new home.”

The Zoo’s interactive marketing campaign also includes fun gorilla-themed adverts and competitions on local radio stations, an online video featuring the famous family of gorillas, and an exciting new gorilla trail for visitors to the Zoo.

To keep the primate family fully entertained, the house also includes new climbing facilities, ropes and play equipment and an indoor shallow pool.

A new food preparation area and additional space for staff allows for much greater flexibility for keepers and the Zoo’s veterinary team in their day-to-day management and care of the group.

Bristol Zoo’s gorilla house has been home to western lowland gorillas for 16 years, and previously housed elephants and giraffes. The gorillas at Bristol Zoo are part of an international conservation breeding programme which makes the new gorilla house a much anticipated and exciting addition to the Zoo.