Summer of Fun at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Visitors to Bristol Zoo Gardens can have a Summer of Fun, catching up with their favourite animals and meeting new ones.

Amongst the 400 different species at the Zoo are some animals that have arrived or been born since the start of the pandemic.

These include two infant gorillas -- Hasani was born last August and Juni came into the world a couple of days before Christmas.

They will be out enjoying the summer weather on Gorilla Island along with their group of six other western lowland gorillas, which are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Just inside the entrance there is an enclosure where an infant sloth, named Noco, can be seen. He was born in April to parents Trixie and Rio.

A short walk away the latest arrival at Bristol Zoo Gardens can be found. His name is Pan and he is a red panda -- listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

Pan, who is 10 months old, came from Birmingham Conservation Wildlife Park in May to join the Zoo’s other red panda Shifumi in the hope they will breed.

Nearby in the newly re-opened Twilight World there is a chance to see one of the most unusual lemurs in the world -- listed by IUCN as Endangered -- an aye-aye named Feo.

He was born last November and the first pictures of him caused quite a stir when they were released in February.

Aye-ayes are nocturnal and are famed for having an extended middle finger which they use to find food inside logs and trees.

As well as the animals there are also the Zoo’s award-winning gardens, which will be in full bloom throughout the summer.

And there’s the opportunity to meet friends and family for an ice-cream on the main lawn at the heart of the Zoo.

There is also the chance to look down upon this famous 12-acre site from the ZooRopia high rope walk.

James Kitto, Head of Commercial Operations at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: “This summer people can rekindle old memories and make new ones at the Zoo.

“For the first time in a long while it seems life is returning to normal, with lots to see and do. It’s going to be a fun summer here.” 

Bristol Zoo Gardens and its sister site Wild Place Project are owned and run by Bristol Zoological Society which is a conservation and education charity. 

It relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work at both zoos, but also its conservation projects across the world and its vital education and community outreach programme.

In March last year, the Society launched the BZS Appeal to ensure the future of its work ‘saving wildlife together’, following the temporary closure of both its sites in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As school groups can now be welcomed back, donations from the appeal fund will support the Education Bursary Fund to ensure schools and youth groups in disadvantaged areas are able to benefit from visiting Bristol Zoo Gardens and Wild Place Project.

To find out more, or to make a donation, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/bzsappeal.