A viral video has triggered widespread concern after showing gorillas banging on windows inside the former Bristol Zoo — a site closed to the public since 2022. Though the zoo relocated operations due to financial pressures, the footage has reignited questions about what happens to animals when zoos shut down. Similar abandoned wildlife facilities worldwide have sparked outrage, from orcas left in a vacant French park to crocodiles discovered in a deserted Thai zoo.

Urban Explorers Capture Startling Gorilla Footage

In 2024, trespassers filmed the gorillas inside the old Bristol Zoo, claiming they “walked straight in” and suggesting animals were neglected. The explorers questioned the zoo’s transparency, insisting gorillas and birds remain onsite despite claims the habitat was empty. Their video fueled speculation and public concern, showing primates visibly reacting to disturbances around their enclosure.

Zoo Officials Defend Animal Care and Security

Bristol Zoo leadership has strongly refuted welfare concerns. “The care and welfare of our animals is our top priority,” said conservation director Brian Zimmerman. The zoo explained that gorillas still live at the Clifton site temporarily, cared for by experienced staff with temperature-controlled indoor spaces and outdoor habitats. Officials noted repeated trespassing incidents trigger alarms, stressing that these disturbances are distressing for the troop.

New Habitat Coming — and Call to Stop Trespassing

With a brand-new Central African Forest exhibit expected to open in spring 2026, the gorillas are set to move soon. The zoo condemned influencers sharing “misleading content for followers” and urged the public to avoid encouraging break-ins. While curiosity has fueled viral videos, Bristol Zoo insists its animals remain safe, monitored, and well cared for — and that trespassing poses the real threat to their wellbeing.