Gorillas at a zoo that closed down are sad, according to animal rights trespassers who broke in.
Bristol Zoo Gardens closed down two years ago.
But two men found gorillas there after sneaking in.
One said: “Mate, this is f*cked up.
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“How has Bristol Zoo still got these f*cking animals in here?
“Look they he is over there, look they are so unhappy bruv.
“What the f*ck.”
The TikTok video viewed nearly 900,000 times had some locals fuming.
Chan Elizabeth said: “Those poor babies, my heart.”
Another added: “Should all be sent to their motherland.”
A spokesman for animal welfare group Born Free also raised concerns about the incident.
They said: “Born Free is aware of videos circulating on social media which feature footage of the gorillas housed at the old site of Bristol Zoo Gardens, which closed to the public in 2022.
“Although the zoo has confirmed that gorillas remain housed at the old site and under the care of keepers while their new enclosure continues to be constructed at their new Bristol Zoo Project site, the videos and the public reaction to them serves to highlight the sad reality facing many wild animals in captivity.
“Born Free is concerned that individuals are able to access the facility which poses significant risks to the health and safety of the individuals involved, zoo staff and also the remaining animals at the zoo.
“We understand the incident has been reported to the police and hope the zoo and the relevant authorities ensure such incidents do not occur in the future, while also ensuring the welfare of the gorillas is paramount during this transition period.”
Born Free’s Captivity Research and Policy Manager Chris Lewis said: “The enclosure they are housed in appears to be the same as that when Bristol Zoo was open to the public and is sadly typical of many great apes’ indoor enclosure within a zoo.
“This highlights the conditions these animals have to endure in captivity and how the needs of such intelligent, sentient beings cannot be met in a zoo environment, whether zoo visitors are present or not.”
The zoo which is closed to the public said the welfare of its animals was its top priority, as reported on Need To Know.
And a zookeeper tending to the gorillas in a Bristol Zoo Project Facebook livestream defended the institution saying: “We still work here everyday.
“The animals’ requirements haven’t changed.
“They still eat the same food, they still need the same enrichment and the same training.
“Everything we used to do when we were open, we still do now, even though we’re shut.”
The Bristol Zoo site is set to be redeveloped into housing with 196 new homes.
It is now almost empty after the move to the Bristol Zoo Project but the zoo said the gorillas would stay at the site until it finished a new home for them.
The Central African Forest habitat which will become their new home is currently being built and is due to open next year.
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