A video has now gone viral from a trespasser, who said their intention was to “find the animals and spread awareness”
11:02, 17 Oct 2025Updated 11:15, 17 Oct 2025
Western Lowland Gorilla Hasani with surrogate mum Kera at Bristol Zoo, before the site closed(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Another trespasser has made their way into the former Bristol Zoo to film a troop of gorillas, despite pleas to leave the animals alone. Eight gorillas are still living at their old enclosure at the iconic Clifton site, which closed to the public three years ago.
Last summer a video went viral on TikTok of the Clifton gorilla enclosure, incorrectly claiming the animals had been “abandoned” following the zoo’s closure to the public. In January, the zoo confirmed it had stepped up security after numerous attempts were made to break into the gorilla enclosure, which were reported to police.
The zoo has previously shamed social media posters for spreading “misinformation” and stressed that the animals are still being cared for in suitable conditions. However a fresh video has now gone viral from a trespasser, who said they uploaded the footage to social media with the sole intention of “finding the animals and spreading awareness” after claiming to have spent several hours there.
They said the visit was prompted by interest in what was happening to the animals in the closure. In the video they said: “Bristol zoo: what are you hiding?
“What is it you don’t want everyone to know? These gorillas should never be in here”.
The individual 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.”
The video showed different parts of the zoo – from the old aquarium, to various habitat enclosures and a big building with glass windows, where a gorilla can be seen looking out and tapping the glass.
The zoo has now confirmed that the troop is due to move ‘in a few months’ to its bigger habitat at the new Bristol Zoo Project, at the site formerly known as Wild Place Project, near Cribbs Causeway. Their new habitat will be four and a half times the size of their current home and has been modelled on the forests of Equatorial Guinea.
The zoo has previously been criticised by a charity for continuing to house the western lowland gorillas in captivity while the new enclosure at a different site in the city remains unfinished.
Visitors at Bristol Zoo on its final day in Clifton(Image: Beresford Hodge/PA Wire)
Bristol Zoo said it did not want to comment on the latest video. But following previous incidents it said it had ‘stepped up security’ due to a number of break ins since the closure – which it claimed had put both the safety of the gorillas and ‘intruders’ at risk. It also said that although increased security means the intruders have not managed to get near the animals, their actions have resulted in a loud security alarm being sounded.
Speaking previously, Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “Since July 2024 our former Bristol Zoo Gardens site has been targeted by trespassers. This has resulted in videos and misinformation being spread on social media. 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.”
CGI of Central African Forest habitat at Bristol Zoo Project(Image: Blackpoint Design)
The zoo also said that although the gorillas are not in their new home yet, their existing enclosure still had access to a large outside area and multiple indoor spaces with a carefully regulated temperature.
The zoo had previously been criticised by wildlife charity Born Free, which released a report earlier this year stating: “Great apes also pose a serious safety risk when they are kept in unnaturally close proximity to humans in zoos.
“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 the health and safety of both the intruders and the gorillas at risk. The repeated disturbances and loud alarms have reportedly had “really distressing” impacts in the gorillas.”