Conservation Breeding Programmes

Bristol Zoo Gardens takes part in many international animal and plant breeding programmes.

Science and research are at the heart of Bristol Zoo Gardens mission and are a requirement for modern zoos. Research that is relevant to the Zoo’s living collections, conservation programmes or education programmes is particularly encouraged.

The Zoo attracts around 30 student projects each year. Many are undergraduates carrying out research for their final year projects, but we also encourage post-graduate and post-doctoral research. The fascinating studies range from olfactory (aroma) enrichment for big cats and enclosure use by penguins, to mites on reptiles.

Other research projects include:

• Gorilla behaviour
• Bat nutrition
• Population dynamics in water voles reintroduced to the wild
• An artifical egg incubation data collector

Conservation Breeding Programmes are collaborative projects that involve a number of zoos and are co-ordinated either nationally or internationally. These programmes ensure that proper standards of husbandry are upheld and that proper genetic and demographic management is maintained. This avoids the effects of inbreeding and domestication, ensuring a healthy conservation breeding population.

Bristol Zoo Gardens participates in a total of 82 Conservation Breeding Programmes, 12 for invertebrates, 7 for fish, 10 for amphibians and reptiles, 23 for birds and 30 for mammals. 12 of these programmes are co-ordinated by staff of Bristol Zoo Gardens.

For a full list of our animal collection and involvement in coordinated breeding programmes please download a copy of our Annual Review Supplement.

Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and is contributing to the ongoing global strategy for plant conservation. It also works with the European Zoo Horticulture Group investigating the use of plants in enclosure design, landscaping and for fodder.

The Zoo is actively involved with native plant conservation through its support of the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife project. By scrub and weed removal and through improved management many rare plant species are protected. In the Gorge these include the Bristol onion and two endemic species of tree: Bristol whitebeam and Wilmott’s whitebeam. On the Downs meadow species such as dropwort, scabious, and bee orchids benefit from annual hay-making.

In the Zoo’s new nursery two rare local West country plants species, Bristol rock cress and the Lundy cabbage, are being cultivated. Examples of these can be seen in the Avon Gorge and Downs display and Seal and Penguin Coasts.

Our work will expand in the future to include other rarities such as the greater water parsnip.