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Gorillas were found "banging on the windows" of their enclosure at a zoo that had closed down three years before. Bristol Zoo closed its doors in 2022, but eight gorillas were filmed this week by urban explorers.
The zoo has previously been criticised by a charity for continuing to house the western lowland gorillas in captivity while the new enclosure at a different site in the city remains unfinished. The zoo said it had 'stepped up security' due to a number of break-ins since the closure, which it claimed had put both the safety of the gorillas and 'intruders' at risk.
But, a fresh video has now gone viral from a visitor, who says they just 'walked straight in' and 'could have opened the enclosure' if they had wanted to. The person said they uploaded the video to social media with the sole intention of "finding the animals and spreading awareness" after claiming to have spent several hours there.
They said the visit was prompted by interest in what was happening to the animals in the closure. In the video they said: "Bristol Zoo: what are you hiding? What is it you don't want everyone to know? These gorillas should never be in here."
The person added: "I, like many others, didn't understand what was going on. Bristol Zoo aren't very transparent at all. It's in the public interest to be transparent, that's why there is so much public attention - no one could care if they were honest.
"They are telling me there are no other animals in there - but I know there are birds and gorillas. We could get access to the gorillas - if I had wanted to we could have opened the enclosure. I have a lot of sympathy for animals."
The filmer said they were able to simply 'walk' into the zoo with no problems as there was no security. They added: "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 video showed different parts of the zoo - from the old aquarium, to various habitat enclosures and a big building with glass windows, where a gorilla can be seen looking out and tapping the glass. The zoo has confirmed that the troop is due to move 'in a few months' to their new African Forest habitat in the new Bristol Zoo Project, which is awaiting completion.
Their new site, formerly known as Wild Place Project, will be four and a half times the size of their current home. Bristol Zoo said it did not want to comment on the latest video, but did post on its TikTok feed explaining how the gorillas continue to receive care on site from an experienced team of keepers.
Speaking previously, Brian Zimmerman, director of conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, said: "Since 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.
"Our heightened security has ensured recent trespassers haven't 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."
The zoo also said that although the gorillas are not in their new home yet, their existing enclosure still had access to a large outside area and multiple indoor spaces with a carefully regulated temperature. The zoo had previously been criticised by wildlife charity Born Free, and in a report stated: "Great apes also pose a serious safety risk when they are kept in unnaturally close proximity to humans in zoos.
"Despite 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's 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 "really distressing" impacts in the gorillas."