Armed police were seen escorting gorillas from the Bristol Zoo Project in Clifton to their new home at Easter Compton, which is set to open to the public this spring
Armed police were spotted at a former city zoo as gorillas moved out of their enclosure.
Staff at Bristol Zoo Project are relocating the gorillas from the Clifton site to their new home on the outskirts of the city. Lorries and vans from JCS Livestock – the country’s leading transportation firm for large wild animals – were seen leaving the site on Wednesday afternoon, escorted by armed police, Bristol Live reports.
Eight western lowland gorillas have lived at Clifton since the zoo closed three and a half years ago. The last animals remaining at the site will soon move to a purpose-built home at Easter Compton, near junction 17 of the M5 at Cribbs Causeway.
A spokesperson for the Bristol Zoological Society said the move will take place gradually over the course of several weeks. “The planning for the move of the zoo’s troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas is extensive and being overseen by the expert team at Bristol Zoological Society to ensure the highest possible animal welfare,” the spokesperson said.
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“Operational preparation for the move has been planned to take place over several weeks. The date of the move won’t be made public to ensure that it progresses without interruption, and the gorillas’ welfare is not impacted. As soon as the move is complete, we will share information with our supporters, volunteers, and members.”
Last month, the zoo unveiled images of its new “African Forest habitat”, including an indoor ‘gorilla gym’, ahead of its planned opening in the spring. The timber structure spanning three indoor areas was crafted using “oak sourced sustainably from Devon”. It features resting platforms, nests and a ‘biofloor’ of bark chip mulch, which the zoo says will encourage natural behaviours like climbing and nesting.
“Plans to create a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project continue to progress, as work is close to completing on the new African Forest habitat for some the world’s most endangered species,” the spokesperson said.
“Completion of African Forest enables the much-anticipated arrival of the zoo’s existing troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas. They will be joined by Endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys in a UK zoo first for the two species.
“African Forest will also be home to Critically Endangered slender-snouted crocodiles, Endangered African grey parrots and several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish.
“African Forest will open to the public in spring 2026 and the gorilla move has been carefully planned to enable a period for the animals to settle into their new habitat prior to the public opening.”
Since the Clifton site closed to visitors in September 2022, keepers have continued to care for the gorillas daily, although occasional break-ins by “urban explorers” have caused the animals distress, the Bristol Zoological Society previously said.
Last month, a campaign to reopen the Clifton site as a zoo was relaunched, with campaigners telling a packed public meeting that time was running out to stop the final sale of the land to property developers.
The campaigners said Bristol Zoological Society will only be able to complete the sale of the Clifton Zoo Gardens site to Acorn Property Group once the gorillas have been moved, as the deal requires vacant possession.
The society overcame a legal challenge last year over plans to build 198 new homes on the former zoo site, with proceeds from the sale funding the expansion of the Bristol Zoo Project in South Gloucestershire.
