The world’s loneliest gorillas? Urban explorers break into Bristol Zoo and find apes still in enclosure three years after it shut

Footage has emerged of a troop of gorillas still living inside the long-abandoned Bristol Zoo – three years after it shut its gates to the public.

The video shows the apes pressing against the glass of their enclosure, as the visitor claims they were able to ‘just walk straight in’ with no sign of staff or security on site.

In the clip, one gorilla can be seen tapping on the window as the camera pans across overgrown paths, empty habitats and deserted visitor buildings. 

The individual who filmed the footage said they uploaded it online to ‘find the animals and spread awareness’, adding they had spent ‘several hours’ inside the closed zoo.

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 explorer, who returned to the site days later, said there were no barriers or guards, insisting: ‘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.’

They 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.’

The explorer went on to claim they could have ‘opened the enclosure’ if they had wanted to.

The video shows the apes pressing against the glass of their enclosure, as the visitor claims they were able to ‘just walk straight in’ with no sign of staff or security on site

In the clip, one gorilla can be seen tapping on the window as the camera pans across overgrown paths, empty habitats and deserted visitor buildings

The individual who filmed the footage said they uploaded it online to ‘find the animals and spread awareness’, adding they had spent ‘several hours’ inside the closed zoo

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.

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 – that it claimed had put both the safety of the gorillas and ‘intruders’ at risk.

Their new site, formerly known as Wild Place Project, will be four and a half times the size of their current home.

Bristol Zoological Society said in a statement: ‘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 on our YouTube channel, 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.’

Aerial view of the Gorilla enclosure at Bristol Zoo, October 16, 2025, which is overgrown and deserted since closing its doors in 2022

The zoo said it had ‘stepped up security’ due to a number of break ins since the closure – that it claimed had put both the safety of the gorillas and ‘intruders’ at risk

Footage capturing gorillas still in their enclosure at Bristol Zoo which is overgrown and deserted since closing its doors in 2022

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.’