Bristol Zoo
Bristol Zoo is a zoo in the city of Bristol in South West England. The zoo's stated mission is to "maintain and defend” biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world". The mammal collection at the zoo numbers around 300, representing 50 species, including: gorillas, Asiatic lions, goodfellow's tree-kangaroo, and red pandas. Among species now on view at Bristol which are rare or absent in other UK zoos are Livingstone's fruit bats, aye ayes and quolls. The zoo's Twilight Zone was the  first of its kind when it opened, there are many other indoor exhibits including an insect and reptile house and aquarium meanwhile outside there are several aviaries and a seal and penguin enclosure. The lakes' islands are home to gorillas, golden lion tamarins, golden-headed lion tamarins, gibbons and squirrel monkeys. The Zoo announced on 27 November 2020 that after more than 185 years its main centre in Clifton would close in late 2022, with its animals moving to its Wild Place Project site close to the M5 motorway and the zoo reopening there in early 2024. History. Opened in  1836 by the Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society, Bristol Zoo is the world's oldest provincial zoo. It is a Victorian walled zoo located between Clifton Down and Clifton College, near Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge; it covers a small area by modern standards, but with a considerable number of species. In the 1960s the zoo came to national prominence by appearing in the UK television series, "Animal Magic", hosted by the comic animal 'communicator', Johnny Morris. Morris would play keeper and voice all the animals there. The zoo's official name is Bristol Zoological Gardens ('Bristol  Zoo Gardens' for commercial purposes). This is not in recognition of the flower displays but recognises the first use of that title at the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens. Bristol, like its earlier London counterpart, includes several original buildings which have been praised for their architectural quirks, despite being unsuitable for the care of animals; the (former) Giraffe House joins the main entrance lodge and the south gates on Guthrie Road as a Grade II listed building. The old Monkey Temple, resembling a southern-Asian temple, is now home to an exhibit called "Smarty plants", an interactive exhibit which shows  how plants use and manipulate animals to survive. The zoo also has breeding firsts, including the first black rhino born in Britain in 1958, the first squirrel monkey born in captivity in 1953 and the first chimpanzee born in Europe in 1934. In December 2014, the zoo lost three endangered animals after two fatal accidents, including one involving a male Warty Pig which killed its own offspring and afterwards attacking its mate, who had to be put down due to the injuries. The keepers were not aware that they had mated, nor that the female was due to give birth . In a separate incident a few days later, a Golden Lion Tamarin fell from a branch in its enclosure into some water, where it became stuck and eaten by the zoo's group of North American Otters. Both incidents were described as unprecedented, unheard of and freak accidents by the zoo staff. Conservation. Bristol Zoo supports wildlife conservation, education and breeding programmes worldwide. For example, Bristol works with other zoos around the world to breed lemurs in captivity. Native to Madagascar, the lemurs are critically endangered because their forest habitat is being destroyed. Bristol Zoo supports the UK/US charity  Ape Action Africa, which rescues and rehabilitates primates in Cameroon, West Africa. Closer to home, the zoo has helped to reintroduce the water vole and the white-clawed crayfish to parts of Southern England. Wild Place Project. A number of mammals are kept on a site to the north of Bristol and there are plans to relocate many more species to the Hollywood Tower estate near Cribbs Causeway, as part of a second zoo. The new site is called the Wild Place Project, and is designed to house larger animals than the existing Bristol Zoo. The zoo is split into  biomes, representing species found only in specific habitats. Current areas include: Bear wood, Gelada rocks, Discover Madagascar and Benoue National Park. The species list currently includes: red river hog, Sudan cheetah, zebra, common eland, gelada baboon, Kirk's dik-dik, Reticulated giraffe, wolverine, Eurasian lynx, grey wolf, and brown bear. Some of the biomes rumoured to be included are: Central American Swamp, Sumatra Tropical Forest, Nepal Riverine Forest, Indian Coral Reef, Congo Tropical Forest and British Wetlands. Confirmed animals include Western lowland gorilla, Collared mangabey, African grey parrots, Slender-snouted crocodiles, Eastern black rhinoceros, Ostrich and Red panda along with  the animals in the new conservation breeding centre The species list for each ecosystem has not yet been finalized, but is likely to include Manatees, chimpanzees, bongo, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran orangutan, gibbons, jaguars, giant anteaters, Sulawesi crested macaque, Squirrel monkeys, Warthog, Asiatic lion, Kudu, African hunting dog, Hamlyn's Monkey, Black and white colobus, Mandrill, Toco Toucan and Malayan Tapir The site officially opened on 22 July 2013 as Wild Place Project. Future plans include a Bristol Zoo-managed conservation breeding centre with climate-controlled enclosures, learning centre and conservation medicine centre. Event hosting. The WOMAD music festival came to  the zoo in 2011, with a subsequent event in 2012.