A bunch of gorillas who had been spotted banging on the windows at an old Bristol Zoo site are getting ready to move to a new location.
There was quite a stir when urban explorers broke into Bristol Zoo's old Clifton site, which closed some years ago, and filmed gorillas still being kept there, accusing the zoo of 'hiding' something and portraying things negatively.
The zoo had to explain that while the site had closed in 2022, the animals had not been abandoned and were still being cared for in their current enclosure while a new one was being built for them, which they would then be moved to.
Now Bristol Live reports that there's been a major update for the gorillas as preparations for moving day appeared to be taking place, with lorries and vans from a firm that specialises in transporting large wild animals seen at the closed Clifton site, while armed police were also spotted acting as guards.
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The ultimate destination for the eight gorillas is a new home located at Bristol Zoo Project, with their 'African Forest' habitat coming together.
A spokesperson for the Bristol Zoological Society explained to Bristol Live that the moving process would take several weeks and they wouldn't be telling the public exactly when it was happening to avoid disruption, but they would tell people once the move had been done.
They said: "The planning for the move of the zoo’s troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas is extensive and being overseen by the expert team at Bristol Zoological Society to ensure the highest possible animal welfare.
"Operational preparation for the move has been planned to take place over several weeks. The date of the move won’t be made public to ensure that it progresses without interruption, and the gorillas’ welfare is not impacted.
"As soon as the move is complete, we will share information with our supporters, volunteers, and members."
The new gorilla habitat will come with an indoor gym and is expected to open to the public in spring this year.
Several incursions on the Clifton site, which is closed but not abandoned, by urban explorers have been accused of distressing the animals while they waited for their new home to be ready for a move.
When a video from some of these people went viral and drew renewed attention, the zoo addressed the 'false information' which was making the situation worse.
Bristol Zoo had said: "Our former Bristol Zoo Gardens site has been targeted by trespassers which has resulted in videos and false information being spread on social media. Unfortunately, the articles printed are very misleading and each time this content is shared, it encourages more break ins, causing distress to our gorillas.
"Our heightened security ensures trespassers can’t reach the gorillas, but each time it happens, and alarms are set off, it causes the troop distress.
"It has been well publicised that the troop are still living in the Clifton site while work is completed on their new African Forest habitat at Bristol Zoo Project.
"The gorillas will be moving across to their new home in the next few months. In the meantime, our experienced keepers and dedicated welfare team continue to care for them, ensuring they have exactly the same routine as when the site was open to the public. You can see a film of them being cared for here, which shows their outside space and enrichment.
"The only reason social media influencers share this misleading content is to gain followers. We hope our supporters help to raise awareness of the harm these continued break-ins cause, and combat the misleading information that the site is empty."
LADbible Group has contacted Bristol Zoo for further comment.
Joe Harker