On Saturday afternoon, the final guests will be ushered out of the 12-acre site in Clifton for the last time and the difficult process of closing the world’s fifth-oldest zoo will begin. Some of the animals will be transferred from Bristol Zoological Society to a much larger site outside the city five miles away, others will be sent to zoos around the world. Then the land will be developed for habitation and the roar of lions and the chatter of gibbons will be heard no more. “I’m devastated, to be honest,” said John Partridge, 68, a recently retired keeper who worked at the zoo for 45 years. “It is a beautiful site. Everyone loves it.” He started as a monkey keeper in 1975 and remembered the orangutans taking walks on the terrace. “That was when their new house was being built and there was a bit of a space problem.” John Partridge, 68, who started working as a security guard in 1975, said he was “devastated”. Photo: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian Partridge lives near the zoo and likes to lie in bed listening to the lions. “People will miss that, I think. It was an integral part of Clifton.” Visitors arrived in their thousands this week to say a fond farewell. One woman broke down in tears as she explained how she used to carry her baby boy. He is now six feet and starting college this fall. One man said he came to remember his father, who brought him here as a boy. “I feel him here when I come,” she said. Simon Garrett, head of engagements, who has worked at the zoo for 32 years, found himself keeping a hissing Madagascar cockroach warm under his fleece as he waited to appear on a local radio show. “Families have been visiting for generations,” he said. “This is a great part of the city. It’s not just about the animals, it’s about the memories people have of spending time with their loved ones here. People remember riding Rosie [another elephant] but they also remember the details – that day a family member threw something at them from an animal, or the time someone threw an ice cream in front of them.” Simon Garrett, the zoo’s head of public engagement, shows a Madagascar cockroach to Lucy, seven, and Freddy, 10. Photo: Adrian Serrat/The Guardian Mary Rogowski, 75, who has volunteered at the zoo for 30 years, said it was the end of an era. She loved showing visitors Fluffy the pine snake. “It was a wonderful snake, very coiled, very long. I was only bitten once.” Her colleague Ceri Addis, 80, said she enjoyed working with the spiders. “I liked the tarantulas,” he said. “I’m sad, but you’re impatient. The animals will have better accommodation, better facilities.” Some creatures, such as gorillas and red pandas, will remain in Bristol Zoo’s gardens until their facilities are built on the Wild Place Project site outside the city. But many other species, including African penguins, seals, giant tortoises and fruit bats are not taken together. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Nigel Simpson, head of animals, promised that a home would be found for all. Movement can be difficult. The zoo recently flew a pygmy hippopotamus to the US and a Gila monster – a venomous lizard – to Switzerland. “Each move is different, each one has its own challenge,” he said. “But we will find a home for everyone.” He accepted that animals such as gorillas might find it strange when the crowds disappear for the last time. “But they got used to it during Covid.” The gorillas will remain in the gardens of Bristol Zoo until enclosures are built in the area outside the city. Photo: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian Finances are a big reason the changes are made. The society is at a loss and selling off the site – built on prime development land – will help. While it won’t satisfy those who believe animals like gorillas shouldn’t be kept in captivity, director of conservation and science Brian Zimmerman said the larger site would be much better for animal welfare. “You wouldn’t choose to build a little zoo in the middle of Clifton today,” he said. Zimmerman argued that the biodiversity crisis meant there was a need for zoos as a safety net. The new out-of-town site will link 80% of species to conservation programs around the world – more than any other UK zoo. On Gorilla Island, Shane Wainfur, 50, from Newport, south Wales, stood looking at the 39-year-old silver Jock. “I’ve been coming here since I was five. I feel like I have a relationship with Jock. It is a sad day.”
