I received an email this morning from Bristol Zoo indicating they are planning to reopen on the 14 July. They’ve published a news item on their website which provides details including booking of timed entry slot tickets. Have you heard the news? | Bristol Zoo
Thanks. Had a look today. Can't say the zoo seems particularly worth visiting at the moment with the nocturnal house, reptile house and other places closed. Maybe another time.
Just seen this article on the BBC news site - Bristol Zoo's chief executive now says he is cautiously optimistic about the future of the zoo, having previously suggested that the zoo could cut costs through staff redundancy and a reduction in the animal collection. The article makes clear that the zoo now has no intention of reducing its collection size. Although admission is being limited at 25% capacity, 98% of available tickets have sold. Another thing of interest from the article is that at Wild Place admission numbers have remained consistent, instead of the big weather-related peaks and troughs in visitors that would normally be expected. The article can be found below: Zoo 'optimistic' for future despite pandemic
It's been well over five years at this point (closer to 10!), I can't remember where some of the females have moved to but I think sometime around 2012 is when Bristol's last female died for sure.
yeah, I already knew that it had been like this for a long time. I was just wondering if anyone knew where the females had gone or if they had died.
@MennoPebesma I don’t think that the Fur Seals at Penguin and Seal coasts will be bachelor’s for long. I believe there is a high possibility that the Fur Seal’s,from the now sadly closed Living Coast’s could be moved to Bristol during the near future. Grace the eldest Fur Seal at Living Coast’s was actually born and resided at Bristol Zoo prior to the opening of Living Coast’s back in 2003.
Are the males from Bristol and the Females from Living coasts not related then? I also think the studbook likes to keep two bachelor groups. There is one in Halle, Germany and this group in Bristol.
@MennoPebesma the only link between the Bristol Zoo and Living coast’s is Grace and her son TamarO’taris auntie and cousin as well as Tunanta O’taris cousin and her daughter Gemini. If O’tari is not at Bristol anymore all of the biological links between the two groups have gone.
Tamar from living coasts lives in Hamburg since 2019 and Otari from Bristol died in 2018. But all males that now live in Bristol are sons of Otari.
@MennoPebesma,can you please name the Fur Seal’s that resided at Living Coast’s at the time of it’s closure? I think the group was made up of Karel(M) Grace(F) Tunanta(F) and Gemini(F) am I correct?
1,0 Karel, born in Rotterdam (Diergaarde Blijdorp) on 20-06-2003 0,1 Grace, born in Bristol (Zoo) on 26-05-2001 0,1 Tunanta, born in Torquay (Living Coasts) on 07-06-2006 0,1 Gemini, born in Torquay (Living Coasts) on 03-06-2014 and the group in Bristol is: 1,0 Pablo, born in Bristol (Zoo) on 29-05-2009 1,0 Juan, born in Bristol (Zoo) on 01-06-2011 1,0 Toro, born in Bristol (Zoo) in 2007
Very sad news, the adult male Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo Mian has died. Bristol Zoo Gardens’ Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, Mian dies | Bristol Zoo
Some new babies born at Bristol Zoo Gardens, great news for conservation. Baby gorilla born at Bristol Zoo Gardens | Bristol Zoo Two precious arrivals at Bristol Zoo Gardens | Bristol Zoo
Gorill baby birth is particularly good news given Kala lost her first baby last September, after a caesarian birth, the baby living for just a few days. This proves she can still give birth normally and be Bristol's 2nd new breeding female( along with Touni). Orphaned four year old 'Afia' is now the only gorilla in their group that is descended from their original breeding male 'Samson'( she is not related to Delilah) The other gorillas currently at Bristol have now all come in more recently from other zoos..
@Pertinax do you think that Afia and her younger half sister Ayana will remain at Bristol Zoo throughout their lives. I hope this happens as keeping the Bristol born females will naturally increase the Zoo’s family of Gorillas, as well as the breeding capacity. I think Jock should move to London Zoo to breed with Effie ,Majukku and Alika. Due to Gernot reaching the age when some male gorillas move to other locations I think that Gernot should be moved to Paignton,Longleat,Port Lyme or the zoo where some of the Port Lyme bachelors moved to a few years ago.
Sorry not to have picked this up before now (19 August) - but, we found exactly the same through July, with very consistent numbers. But, the weather then was pretty consistent too. Now into mid-August, the heat last week and now the rain & storms (and even more so the forecasts of such, that turn out to be wrong) have meant that August, though busy has been much more 'normal'.
Would this also be due at least partly to the pattern of many people traditionally going away from home on holiday in August, (though this year particularly many more are staying in the UK), as against July which was a mishmash of children still off school, many people still at home on furlough etc but not going away as much as in August?
