Building contractor Beard has embarked on a significant project at Bristol Zoo to create a new Central African Forest habitat.
- The £9.2m initiative will bring endangered western lowland gorillas and cherry-crowned mangabeys together for the first time in the UK.
- Beard is constructing new homes for gorillas, crocodiles, and parrots, with comprehensive visitor facilities.
- Specialist contractors are ensuring the habitat replicates the natural conditions needed for species conservation.
- The project aligns with Bristol Zoological Society’s ambitious conservation goals, with completion expected by spring 2025.
Beard, a construction firm, has commenced work on an ambitious £9.2 million project at Bristol Zoo, aimed at establishing a new Central African Forest habitat. This project marks the UK’s first attempt to house both critically endangered western lowland gorillas and endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys within the same habitat. The development includes constructing dedicated facilities for these primates, as well as a new house for crocodiles and an aviary for parrots.
The construction plan encompasses expansive outdoor spaces for the gorillas, surrounded by a moat, providing a semblance of their native environment. Additionally, an integrated viewing and learning area will offer visitors and school groups enhanced opportunities to observe the animals closely. Beard’s collaboration with specialist contractors and the Bristol Zoological Society is crucial to ensure the habitat’s design accommodates the specific needs of each species, focusing on aspects like water treatment, heating, and atmospheric conditions.
Moreover, the project involves extensive landscaping designed to mimic the dense forests of Equatorial Guinea, providing a naturalistic setting for the animals. The new zoo environment will offer the gorillas over four times the space compared to their current habitat. Notably, Bristol Zoo will remain operational throughout the construction period, which is scheduled for completion in spring 2025.
This initiative is the first phase of Bristol Zoological Society’s broader strategy to develop a contemporary conservation zoo. The society is committed to focusing on species that are at risk and integrating them into conservation programmes. Currently, 78% of the species at the zoo are part of these programmes, with an aim to increase this figure to 90% by 2035. Future plans include the establishment of a Central African Savannah habitat, new visitor facilities, and a dedicated Conservation Campus for training future conservationists.
Matt Cooper, Beard’s director in Bristol, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for being chosen to design and build this unique habitat, describing it as a “conservation first” in a UK zoo. “We are working closely with Bristol Zoological Society, specialist contractors and all stakeholders to ensure this exciting vision and conservation project is fully realised,” Cooper stated, highlighting the project as an opportunity to demonstrate Beard’s extensive expertise.
This groundbreaking project at Bristol Zoo represents a pivotal advancement in conservation efforts, setting a precedent for future initiatives.
