Bristol Zoo is closing down its Clifton site, which has been the venue for many school trips over the years.
But, the Bristol Zoological Society has unveiled plans to relocate the attraction to its Wild Place Project site in South Gloucestershire to create a 'world-class zoo and safeguard the future of the organisation'.
The site, which many Welsh school trips and families have visited over the years, is based in the north west of the city and opened 185 years ago.
The Clifton site will remain open until 2022 and visitors won't see an immediate change, reports our sister title, Bristol Live.
Due to the current pandemic, the zoo is currently closed and back in June the attraction issued a warning that its future was “seriously at stake” after a change in law meant it had to remain closed.
At the time a spokesperson for Bristol Zoological Society warned the charity might not be able to recover from the effects of the enforced closure.
See the baby gorilla born at Bristol Zoo this autumn
Charlotte Moar, Chair of Trustees for Bristol Zoological Society, said everyone at the society recognised the significance of the decision.
She said: “This decision has not been taken lightly and follows a rigorous process of assessing the strategic options over several months, as well as taking independent professional advice from a range of sources to ensure we are doing the best possible thing for the Society’s future.
“Over the next five years, even if we were to sell all our property in Clifton, except Bristol Zoo Gardens, and raise £7 million through philanthropic fundraising, we would still have a capital funding shortfall of £8 million."
She continued: “Over 20 years this shortfall increases to £44 million and as a result we would not be able to sustain our two zoos, our education programme and our UK and international conservation programme.
“This new plan ensures that Bristol Zoo continues to exist for generations to come, offering millions more people the opportunity to experience the magic of a new Bristol Zoo.”
The Wild Place Project is around six miles outside of Bristol, and closer to the Welsh border.
