Unusual new enclosure revealed at Bristol Zoo

Zoo visitors and staff have been surprised by the addition of a new and unexpected enclosure at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

A mysterious sign has appeared on the side of the Zoo’s popular Coral Café, designating the area as a place to spot one of the world’s most widespread species - Homo sapiens.

The notice, which appeared without warning this week, shows humans ‘on display’ inside the café and includes tongue-in-cheek description of the species and its characteristics.

The light hearted sign explains some well known human characteristics such as: “The human is one of the world’s most widespread species, and is present on all continents. In adolescence, the offspring adopt a more nocturnal lifestyle and engage in ritualised activities of drinking fermented liquids and dancing to rhythmical sounds, which scientists believe may help them to find a mate.”

It goes on to say: “The human diet is very adaptable to regional crop varieties and personal taste, with some groups able to live almost exclusively on chipped potatoes and sugary drinks.

“Groups of humans are often fed by unrelated individuals in exchange for tokens made of paper, metal and plastic – behaviour which can frequently be seen inside this enclosure.”

Zoo staff were surprised and amused to discover the new fixture. Dr Jo Gipps, Director of Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: “This is definitely not one of the Zoo’s own signs, it is clearly a prank and a very good one too. It looks completely genuine. We think it’s great sign and we have absolutely no intention of removing it, however I think one of them is probably enough."

Although staff do not know the origin of the sign, it comes as the famous Bristol street artist, Banksy, holds a ‘homecoming’ exhibition of his work at Bristol Museum nearby.

Dr Gipps added: “I don’t suppose we’ll ever find out who was responsible for this, but it is certainly raising a few smiles here at the Zoo!”

For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens visit the zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300.

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For press enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:
Rosie Sims, T: 0117 974 7387, E: rsims [at] bristolzoo [dot] org [dot] uk

About Bristol Zoo Gardens

• Bristol Zoo Gardens is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
• The Zoo is an Education and Conservation Charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work.
• The Zoo is involved with over one hundred co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
• It employs 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens supports – through finance and skill sharing - over 10 projects in the UK and abroad that conserve and protect some of the world’s most endangered species.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.