The world's loneliest gorillas: trespassers reveal a closed Bristol Zoo where apes still live years after the gates shut
Footage has emerged of a troop of gorillas living inside the long-abandoned Bristol Zoo, three years after it stopped admitting visitors. The video shows the apes pressed against the glass of their enclosure while a visitor claims they could walk straight in, with no sign of staff or security on site. The stark images raise urgent questions about animal welfare, security, and transparency at a site that remains quiet long after closure.
Inside the abandoned grounds: what the footage shows
In the clip, the gorillas press against the enclosure glass as overgrown paths, empty habitats, and deserted visitor buildings unfold around them. The person who filmed says they uploaded the footage to 'find the animals and spread awareness' after spending 'several hours' inside the closed zoo. They added: 'Bristol zoo: what are you hiding? What is it you don’t want everyone to know? These gorillas should never be in here.' They also claimed there was no security: 'There was no security. We spent an hour and a half in there and even came back two days later. If anyone is trying to say we broke in or climbed over, it’s not true. We simply went to the staff doors, pushed them open and walked straight through.' The zoo says the troop is due to move in a few months to their new African Forest habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project, which is awaiting completion.
The response and the road ahead: safety, transparency, and what comes next
The Bristol Zoological Society says it has stepped up security after a number of break-ins since the closure, arguing the incidents risk both gorillas and intruders. Their new site, formerly known as Wild Place Project, will be four and a half times the size of the current home. Born Free criticized the situation, warning that great apes pose safety risks when kept unnaturally close to humans and that ongoing break-ins have distressed the gorillas. The society emphasizes that while work continues, the gorillas remain at Clifton with full care and enrichment, and that footage of their care is available on the zoo’s YouTube channel. They urge supporters to counter misinformation and recognize that the gorillas’ welfare remains the priority as they move to the new Bristol Zoo Project.
