{"id":507286,"date":"2025-10-17T17:02:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T17:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/507286\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T17:02:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T17:02:19","slug":"the-truth-of-the-abandoned-gorillas-at-bristol-zoo-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/507286\/","title":{"rendered":"The truth of the \u2018abandoned\u2019 gorillas at Bristol Zoo videos"},"content":{"rendered":"

People are really angry, but the zoo has already responded <\/p>\n

Bristol Zoo has once again been forced to weather criticism after an onslaught of videos about its gorillas remaining \u201cabandoned\u201d on the site that closed down three years ago.<\/p>\n

This month, TikTok<\/a> has been flooded with videos of so-called \u201curban explorers\u201d breaking into Bristol<\/a> Zoo, which closed down in 2022. Just three years on, and the site looks incredibly sketchy, with plants having burst their bounds and grown all over the pathways and buildings. It\u2019s like something from a post-apocalyptic film, but shockingly, those explorers found gorillas still in their enclosures and tapping on the glass.\u00a0The videos were uploaded to TikTok in the hopes of \u201cfinding the animals and spreading awareness\u201d, and it\u2019s quickly been picked up by pretty much every major news site in the UK.<\/p>\n

\u201cBristol zoo: what are you hiding? What is it you don\u2019t want everyone to know? These gorillas should never be in here,\u201d one explorer said in their video.<\/p>\n

\n @sjd1522<\/a> <\/p>\n

#viral<\/a> #foryou<\/a> #fyp<\/a> #zoo<\/a> #help<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 *-*Dammsy*-*<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI, like many others, didn\u2019t understand what was going on. Bristol Zoo aren\u2019t very transparent at all. It\u2019s in the public interest to be transparent that\u2019s why there is so much public attention \u2013 no one could care if they were honest. They are telling me there is no other animals in there \u2013 but I know there are birds and gorillas. We could get access to the gorillas \u2013 if I had wanted to we could have opened the enclosure. I have a lot of sympathy for animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apparently, they were able to gain access to Bristol Zoo with little to no effort, walking to the staff doors, pushing them open and walking straight through. They didn\u2019t have to climb a fence or break open a lock.<\/p>\n

Of course, the videos have sparked a huge amount of backlash, with some accusing Bristol Zoo of animal abuse. Though the videos are not exactly factually inaccurate, there\u2019s a major piece of missing context that needs to be understood.<\/p>\n

\"SWNS\"<\/p>\n

Credit: SWNS<\/p>\n

Bristol Zoo has already responded to the viral gorilla videos<\/p>\n

Right, so here\u2019s where things get slightly more complicated because, while the gorillas have essentially been left at the abandoned site, they\u2019re not going to remain there forever, and they do receive the usual care from keepers.<\/p>\n

Bristol Zoo, or the site specifically known as Bristol Zoo Gardens, was closed down in 2022 to fund the creation of a new conservation zoo at the Bristol Zoo Project. The old site is set to be turned into a community with 196 homes, with the animals moving to the Bristol Zoo Project. There, the animals will have much bigger enclosures and better care, with an emphasis on conservation.<\/p>\n

Okay, so why are the gorillas just chilling alone? Well, the African Forest habitat is still under construction at the Bristol Zoo Project, but moving the gorillas is expected to happen in \u201ca few months.\u201d In the meantime, they still have access to outdoor spaces, numerous temperature-controlled indoor areas, and care from keepers.<\/p>\n

\"SWNS\"<\/p>\n

Credit: SWNS<\/p>\n

In fact, these urban explorers, while somewhat well-intentioned, are putting both themselves and the gorillas at risk.<\/p>\n

Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, earlier said: \u201cSince 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur heightened security has ensured recent trespassers haven\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

A charity did speak out<\/p>\n

Wildlife charity Born Free also slammed the decision to keep the gorillas at the old site, but it didn\u2019t condemn those taking the videos.<\/p>\n

\n @mushroom_urbex<\/a> <\/p>\n

Bristol Zoo\u2019s Clifton site opened in 1836 and was one of the oldest zoos in the world. It was located in the Clifton area of Bristol and became famous for its lovely gardens and old-style animal homes. The zoo was a favorite place for many people and worked hard to protect animals and teach visitors about wildlife. It had many different animals and was important for education and conservation. In 2022, the zoo closed the Clifton site to the public. They decided to move to a new style of zoo with bigger, more natural spaces for animals. The Clifton site is now planned for new uses but is still an important part of Bristol\u2019s history.@Top Urbex #bristolzoo<\/a> #bristol<\/a> #gorila<\/a> #urbex<\/a> #fyp<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c where\u2019s my head at _ \u2013 Basement Jaxx & 100 gecs<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cGreat apes also pose a serious safety risk when they are kept in unnaturally close proximity to humans in zoos,\u201d the charity said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite 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\u2019s 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 \u2018really distressing\u2019 impacts in the gorillas.\u201d<\/p>\n

I mean, there wouldn\u2019t be any alarms if people weren\u2019t breaking in?<\/p>\n

For more like this,\u00a0like The Tab on Facebook<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n

Featured image credit: SWNS and TikTok\/Mushroom_Urbex<\/p>\n