|
About Us
Bristol Zoo Gardens was founded in 1835 by a group of
eminent local citizens including the world-renowned engineer
Isamard Kingdom Brunel. It opened to the public in 1836. It
is the fifth oldest Zoo in the world, and the oldest one
that is not in a capital city. There were 220 shareholders
who subscribed the capital to enable the land to be bought
and the Zoo to be built.
|
In Victorian times
the Zoo Gardens became a focus for social and
recreational occasions for the citizens of Bristol,
as well as a place of serious natural history study.
There were flower shows, bands played on the lawns,
there were boat trips on the lake as well as tennis,
croquet and archery.
Zebi, the Zoo's famous
elephant, was here from 1868 to 1909. She was quite
a character, renowned for removing and eating straw
hats! Rajah, who gave rides to children for many
years, replaced her.
The Zoo entered a difficult period during and after
the First World War. However an extensive building
programme in the 1920s and 1930s saw a great
improvement. Some of these buildings still survive -
the Aquarium and the Pavilion buildings being
examples. |
Zebi the elephant – 1868- 1909.
Zebi was renowned for eating straw
|
|
During the
Second World War some of the flowerbeds were
turned over to vegetable growing and many of
the animals had to be evacuated to safer
areas. After the bombing of Filton, the
Bristol Aeroplane Company took over the
Pavilion for their staff.
The 1950s and 1960s were some of the most
successful years in the Zoo's history.
People had more money in their pockets and
there was little competition in terms of
visitor attractions and attendance soared.
In 1953 the World's first nocturnal house
was opened here. Twilight World was the
first animal house in the world to invert
day and night, so that visitors could see
the Zoo’s nocturnal animals whilst active
|
Wounded soldiers being
entertained at the Zoo during the First World War
(1916)
|
Rosie the
elephant gave 80,000 rides a year
to
children |
Sebastian, the polar
bear cub was born in 1958 and he proved to
be a huge attraction, as were the white
tigers that arrived in 1963. One of the most
popular animals at Bristol Zoo, Rosie the
elephant died in 1961.
She had given 80,000
rides a year to children but she was quickly
replaced with Wendy, an Asian elephant. In
1967, the Severn Bridge opened and
attendance was the biggest ever (1,134,488
visitors).
In more recent years the Zoo has
developed its educational and scientific roles.
Full-time education and science officers are
employed and great emphasis is placed on activities,
which help both to educate the public and conserve
wildlife.
|
|
Betty with
Adam, the first
chimpanzee to be conceived and born in
captivity (1934) |
‘Livingstone’s
Fruit Bat, supported by a conservation
project in the Comores. |
Many species
have been successfully bred at Bristol Zoo
Gardens over the years; the first chimpanzee
to be conceived and born in captivity in
Europe was Adam at Bristol Zoo in 1934.
Other notable past successes include western
lowland gorillas, polar bears, okapis and
pancake tortoises. Today breeding is
coordinated using the international studbook
system and European breeding programmes.
The Zoo has played a part in breeding numerous
endangered species including Asiatic lions,
and in 1999 Livingstone's fruit bats bred
here (the first successful breeding in
mainland UK). In 2005 the aye-ayes gave
birth to Kintana, who was the first aye-aye
hand-reared in the UK. |
As the Zoo progresses into the 21st
century, the focus of Bristol Zoo Gardens’ work
continues to be on conservation and education. The
Zoo
currently contribute to 15 major field conservation
projects worldwide, studying and helping to conserve
species as diverse as lemurs in Madagascar,
Livingstone’s fruit bats in the Comores and
primates, particularly orphaned apes in Cameroon.
Closer to home, the number of UK projects with which
the Zoo is involved has increased and two native
species have been successfully bred and
reintroduced. |
| |
|
