Bristol Annual Review 2015 Contents Chair of Trustees’ Chief Executive Winter 4 welcome Officer’s welcome Wild Place Project 6

Spring 10

Giraffe House appeal 11

Summer 14

Field conservation 15 and science It gives me great pleasure to project to determine whether fishing Welcome to our annual review concerns endangered species in guest numbers compared with introduce the Bristol Zoological controls are helping the African 2015. It was another exciting and closer to home. You can find out 2014 – a tremendous achievement. UK native species conservation 17 Society 2015 Annual Review penguin population by making more busy year with a host of animal more about our work with native and to reflect on some of our food available for adult penguins. arrivals, conservation and research species on page 17. 2015 saw us launch an ambitious Autumn 20 achievements during the year, activities, education sessions, fundraising appeal to build a new which has seen so much happening. We are thrilled with the ongoing fundraising activities and a A highlight of the year was our giraffe exhibit at Wild Place Project The year in figures 21 success and development of Wild successful programme of events, sell-out Giggle for Gorillas event, which will demonstrate what we The Society’s mission is ‘to save Place Project. This year we opened both at Bristol Gardens and headlined by an impressive line-up will be doing to save giraffes in wildlife through conservation action our new cheetah exhibit, enjoyed Wild Place Project. of comics including Jon Richardson, the wild. With extinction a real and engaging people with the record-breaking visitor numbers Adam Hills and Sally-Anne Hayward, prospect, now is the time to fight natural world’, with our vision being and put on a busy calendar In 2015 we wanted to help our who all donated their time and for their survival. ’a sustainable future for wildlife of events including our first guests make a difference for performances in aid of our gorilla and people’. This year we officially Christmas seasonal offering which conservation and the environment, conservation projects in Cameroon. I’m proud that our efforts were opened our new Institute of quickly sold out. We have further so we themed it as ‘The Year of once again recognised by the Trustees Conservation Science and Learning significant plans for the future of Saving Wildlife Together’. We Another exciting development was British zoo community as we during the year which houses our growing Higher Wild Place Project which continues linked it to the Big Bugs display the opening of The Lodge - our new, received a host of awards from

Richard Clarke – Chairman of Trustees Education provision and team of to receive such fantastic support of giant animatronic invertebrates luxury overnight accommodation. the British and Irish Association conservation scientists. The state- from the public, for which we are around the Zoo, and our campaign The Lodge offers guests a unique of and Aquariums. Among Malcolm Broad MBE of-the-art centre boasts a library, very thankful. hub collected guests’ pledges to and unrivalled experience with the others, we received gold for our Professor Innes Cuthill laboratory, themed teaching rooms help bugs in their gardens by such opportunity to enjoy a behind-the- research on ‘Bioacoustics, ecology David Esam and lecture theatres, enabling us to The Society continues to look activities as planting wild flowers scenes twilight tour of the Zoo, a and conservation of amphibians in teach over 40,000 pupils a year and forward with confidence to the and building ‘bug hotels’. gourmet dinner cooked by a private Northwest Madagascar’, silver in Professor Allen Goodship 300 university students on Higher future. Finally I would like to thank chef and a breakfast experience the conservation category for the Paul Kearney Education courses. the trustees, the C.E.O, the senior Last year we continued our with our gorillas. Avon Invasive Weeds Forum and Claire Ladkin management team and all the staff conservation and research with the silver for our PR and marketing Outside Bristol, we have had and volunteers for their dedication, aim of increasing the effectiveness Wild Place Project continues to efforts during the Saving Wildlife Mathew Laws another full year of conservation commitment and hard work for the of our conservation activities and grow and prosper at a fantastic rate Together campaign. James McArthur science, research and field work. Bristol Zoological Society. increasing our understanding and we welcomed the 100,000th Charlotte Moar We started a new conservation of endangered species around guest of 2015 through the doors in medicine project to monitor the the world. As well as caring for December. A combination of new Professor Steve Neill health of the Sahamalaza sportive Richard Clarke exotic animals from further afield, exhibits and an effective marketing Dr Bryan Carroll Professor Frank Smith lemur population and a research Chairman of Trustees an important part of our work campaign led to a huge increase C.E.O. The continued popularity of our animal experiences Winter saw the addition of two new experiences this year, offering guests the chance to get up close to two of our most iconic species; Asiatic and western lowland gorillas.

Mexican red-kneed tarantula, firefly January February and the red-tailed bumblebee, all brought to life using cutting-edge The year began with an appeal for We teamed-up with Sounds technology and animatronics. volunteers to help save amorous Commercial to transform the amphibians from being killed on Clifton Suspension Bridge by lighting it up with giant insects March to launch the Zoo’s Big Bugs exhibition. For six months some of Construction of the new the world’s most well-known and walkthrough exhibit for yellow- threatened invertebrate species footed rock wallabies was took up residence at the Zoo, completed. It also houses including the seven-spot ladybird, Australian bird species.

the roads. Every year toads, frogs and newts migrate from their winter hibernation sites to ponds and streams to breed, with toads often crossing busy roads on the journey. We now support 19 local toad patrols in and around the Bristol region.

4 Wild Place Project

The arrival of some exciting new animals and the opening of more of the estate to guests has made for a very busy few years since Wild Place Project first opened its doors to the public in July 2013.

The year got off to a busy start as we received over 3,000 guests during February half term. This record-breaking trend continued as we later welcomed the 100,000th guest through the doors of Wild Place Project this year - a tremendous achievement. We went on to receive 104,308 guests compared with 2014’s total of 67,817 – a 54 per cent increase.

A highlight of the year was the and Wild Place Project is one of Two white-belted ruffed lemurs arrival of three cheetahs at Easter. just four zoos in the UK to keep also made Wild Place Project their The cheetahs, all young males, live them. We invited the public to home this year, settling into a new in the new Mahali Pori National name our three new arrivals, with enclosure which was specially Park exhibit. Their enclosure the winning names – Brooke, designed and built by Redrow boasts features such as a lure Jake and Oscar – chosen by Homes. White-belted ruffed lemurs which the cheetahs chase, staff at Wild Place Project come from eastern Madagascar demonstrating their full with help from local housing and are Critically Endangered. It running capacity. association, Merlin and the is hoped the pair will breed as Environment Agency, who there are just 76 of these lemurs Central African cheetahs are kindly donated time and in captivity. Other arrivals this year classified as Vulnerable with manpower to build the included meerkats, now living in a fewer than 2,000 in the wild, new exhibit. new enclosure inside the walled 6 Wild Place Project We secured a pledge of US$1million (£700,000) continued 2,619 students were towards the British taught in 150 education Ancient Woodland exhibit sessions at Wild Place this year, from grant- Project this year. awarding organisation, The Oak Foundation.

garden. We gave a home to six play facilities, meeting the new Sundown evening openings. We reindeer in October this year. meerkats, building dens, trying also held a sell-out bat walk and a out the activity trails and providing stargazing night. Our successful Our Gardens team created a feedback on all of the fun Wild Halloween Festival included beautiful wild flower display of Place Project has to offer. the new maize maze and a poppies, corn marigolds and corn scarecrow trail. buttercups among others, as part Our busy programme of events of a flowering barley field funded once again proved popular, This year we held our first by Grow Wild. They also planted including a sell-out performance Christmas festival, offering over 1,000 small trees around the of Robin Hood attended by guests the chance to ride on the estate this year. 600 people, and three Summer Christmas Express, meet the new reindeer and visit Father Christmas Another development at Wild in a new, custom-built festive yurt. Place Project was a new Congo to meet and feed these amazing Guests could also explore the play area, funded and species. A hands-on ‘keeper for attraction and discover the myths built by design and engineering the day’ experience also began, and legends behind native plants consultancy, Atkins. The play area offering guests the opportunity to and animals on the Wild Place was designed with help from local work with all of the animals at Wild Project’s Christmas trail. Locally school children, with features Place Project, alongside our expert sourced Christmas trees were including an elephant slide, spider animal keepers. Money raised also on sale. climbing frame, rope bridge and through this experience goes ranger’s hut. We also revamped towards supporting the Society’s The hard-working team of the popular barefoot trail, to conservation work. volunteers at Wild Place Project include new ‘rooms’ – dining room, has grown this year, from 70 in living room, bedroom, playroom As with last year, we ran a 2014 to 120 during this year’s and mud kitchen. competition to recruit a young peak season. Over the summer (mis)chief advisor to help give period alone, our team of volunteer The valuable support and hard Our guest experience packages feedback on how we can make rangers gave around 364 hours work of our corporate volunteers developed further, with the launch the attraction the best it can be. of their time every week. We has also been gratefully received, of a new and red river hog The successful candidate spent a are thankful for the support they with 5,028 hours work donated by interactive experience. Guests few days with our team and was continue to show, volunteering in corporate volunteers at Wild Place can now go behind the scenes tasked with trying out the outdoor many ways across the attraction. Project this year. 7 8 Twin aye-ayes, a species of lemur, were born at in a world first. Once thought to be almost extinct, the aye-aye is Spring classified as Endangered by conservationists.

We launched an April ‘Access to Nature’ Three Endangered yellow-headed bursary scheme to day geckos were born in the offer equal access Reptile House; a huge boost for opportunities to the species which can only be community groups that found in the tropical rainforests of Madagascar. would otherwise be prohibited from visiting Bristol Zoo or Wild May Place Project.

The birth of an Endangered drill was a welcome arrival in the and Learning – the first of its kind Invited speakers were Prof. Sir spring. Drills are one of the rarest in the UK. The Director General Eric Thomas from the University primates in Africa and Bristol Zoo is of the International Union for of Bristol, and Prof. Steve Neil one of only four places in the UK to Conservation of Nature (IUCN), from the University of the West have this species. Inger Andersen, cut the ribbon of England, who is also one of to unveil the £2.3 million centre. our trustees. The hatching of a Mindanao bleeding heart dove chick was also a significant boost to the captive breeding programme for this Vulnerable species. June

We officially opened the new Institute of Conservation Science 10 Wild giraffe numbers have dwindled Giraffe House from 140,000 to 80,000 in 15 years. There are now fewer giraffe left in the appeal wild than African elephants.

Giraffe are in very serious trouble the ‘Edge of Africa’ exhibit. The raises awareness of the campaign on-site collection boxes which in the wild. With threats from giraffe house will offer guests the among guests. raised £4,200. poaching, the bushmeat trade and opportunity to come face-to-face habitat loss, these iconic animals with giraffes from a high-level Throughout 2015 the campaign In September we invited groups are in grave danger of becoming viewing platform. fundraising activities raised of corporate supporters to join us extinct if nothing is done to £89,000. We offered added-value in completing the Welsh Three protect them. The mascot of the appeal is activities at Wild Place Project Peaks Challenge. Society staff ‘Gerry the giraffe’ who features during busy periods, including and supporters climbed Snowdon Our aim at Wild Place Project is in a video and accompanying giraffe-themed games and crafts. in the north, Cadair Idris in mid- to protect giraffes, safeguarding marketing collateral for the Giraffe This was boosted by the sale of Wales and Pen y Fan in the south. a population in human care House appeal. A fundraising ‘hub’ giraffe-themed wristbands and Despite the weather, the event alongside a sustainable was a great success and raised population in the wild. We £5,500 for the appeal. started a fundraising campaign to raise £750,000 to build a new We also held ‘Wild Run, Jog for immersive giraffe exhibit at Wild Giraffe’ - a 5k multi-terrain family Place Project. This will symbolise fun-run around Wild Place the work we will be carrying out to Project. 120 people save giraffes in the wild. took part in the event, and a shorter ‘Wild The year finished with the appeal from a major US grant- We have identified an area in Mini Run’, Christmas Gala dinner in aid of making foundation. Further plans Cameroon that is likely to hold an sponsored by the appeal, hosted by television are underway to continue the important population of Kordofan Mama Bear’s presenter and natural history fundraising campaign throughout giraffe; a highly threatened giraffe Day Nursery and expert, Miranda Krestovnikoff, and 2016 and beyond. subspecies. Our next step is to Pre-School, was open attended by 120 people. Proceeds undertake research to identify to runners aged seven from the dinner, as well as a silent population numbers and produce and under. In total auction, raffle and grand auction, a conservation action plan to help the event raised raised a total of £17,500. save them from extinction. £3,200 for the appeal and will We were delighted to have Giraffe at Wild Place Project be repeated secured a pledge of US$100,000 will join the and eland in in 2016. (payable in 2016) for the giraffe 11 12 Our tarictic hornbill chick was the Summer first to be hatched here since 2002. This is the first time our new pair have bred and is a great result for this Endangered species.

August

Giggle for Gorillas returned for a second year, with a line-up of well July known comedians performing to Hayward, with support acts from a sell-out crowd in aid of gorilla Bristol’s own George Rigden and Olympic medallist Sharron Davies conservation. The event was Northampton-born Andrew Bird. launched ‘Row for Rivers’, our headlined by Jon Richardson, Mark Olver compered the event five day rowing challenge to Adam Hills and Sally-Anne which raised £18,154. raise money for native species conservation. Staff, guests and volunteers raised £1,500 by rowing 1,300km using five September A busy programme of summer entertainment included four Nuffield Health static rowing sell-out Sunset Special events, a gig by the Bootleg Beatles, machines on the Zoo’s main A new female gorilla called Touni productions of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream lawn. Environmental solutions joined our troop from a zoo in and David Walliams’ book Mr Stink, and our adults only Big provider Veolia donated 50p per France. One of our staff members kilometre rowed. spent a week with Touni before Night Out. We also received a BIG Lottery ‘Awards For All’ making the journey with her to grant of £7,200 to host the first ever Lesbian Gay Bisexual This summer we also celebrated Bristol to settle into her new home Transsexual family friendly event at a UK zoo. the birth of our first crowned lemur. on Gorilla Island. 14 Native species Avon Gorge & Downs - Bristol Wildlife Project - Bristol

Field conservation White-clawed crayfish Père David’s deer - south west England - China and science Avon invasive weeds Negros bleeding heart - south west England doves - Philippines

Primates of the lowland Livingstone’s fruit bats forest - Colombia - Comoros to bring in alternative sources of Global conservation China sustainable protein, by creating new livestock facilities. 2015 marked the 30th anniversary The latest report on the world’s Primates Lemurs, amphibians & 25 most endangered primates of the return of milu (Père David’s - Cameroon ibis - Madagascar highlighted the plight of species deer) to China. We contributed to such as the Hainan gibbon, of the first national symposium on the South Africa which there are thought to be just milu in Beijing. This iconic species Dja Biosphere Reserve African penguins 25 left in the world. The report is still classified as Extinct in the This year we started a research - Cameroon - South Africa is compiled by Bristol Zoological Wild and we hope to establish project comparing African penguin Society on behalf of a number of sustainable populations in the chick growth data in years with Colombia organisations, with new additions areas where it originated (the fishing closures around the to the list including the Philippine Yangtze River basin) in the future. penguin colonies, against data The process of defining a new tarsier and the Lavasoa Mountains from several years where fishing protected area in central Colombia Philippines dwarf lemur. was unrestricted. We intend to for the protection of several East African pancake Cameroon determine if the fishing closures endangered species such as tortoise We are currently working to are helping the penguin population brown spider monkeys, tapirs conserve the remaining forest Madagascar We completed the second year by making it easier for adults to find and jaguars continues. The East African pancake tortoise species on Negros. This year we of a project to protect the wildlife food when caring for their chicks. has experienced major population took on a law enforcement officer This year we began several and habitat of the Dja Biosphere In February we contributed decline due to exploitation for the to help address the problem of research projects on the Reserve, a World Heritage Site in Almost 750 African penguin to a conference to highlight exotic pet trade. Many in captivity illegal forest clearance, which Sahamalaza peninsula in south-eastern Cameroon. We hope chicks were reintroduced into the how sustainable development were confiscated at customs. threatens a Critically Endangered Madagascar. These included a to establish an area for sustainable wild in 2015, as part of the Chick could work alongside wildlife Consequently, information population of Negros bleeding conservation medicine project hunting around the Dja, to take the Bolstering Project funded by our conservation. It attracted a number regarding their origin and genetic heart doves as well as Visayan to monitor the health of the pressure off gorillas, chimps and penguin appeal at the end of 2014. of private businesses, NGOs and diversity is missing. This year we warty pigs, Walden’s hornbills, Sahamalaza sportive lemur other threatened species, illegally We also sent additional five ambassadors from Central and conducted a molecular study in tarictic hornbills and spotted population and an MSc project killed for their meat. One of the funds to SANCCOB (Southern South America. The conference collaboration with the University deer. The area was declared an that collected some of the first aims of the project is to create an African Foundation for the was hosted by Baroness Hooper, of the West of England (UWE) to official ‘critical watershed and vocalisation recordings of the area where hunting is monitored Conservation of Coastal Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary verify the origins and relatedness critical habitat for wildlife’, to give Endangered Sambirano mouse and controlled so that there are Birds) to help oiled Committee for Latin America, of individuals. The results can additional protection status to lemur from a newly no local extinctions. Our research penguins caught up who continues to give us crucial now be used to select the best one of the last remaining forests discovered population. this year shows that we may have in a spill. political support. individuals for breeding. on Negros. 15 16 The River Avon and its major tributaries form one of the most important UK native species This year we hatched out river systems in the UK, more than 1,000 crayfish supporting nationally and at Bristol Zoo Gardens. conservation internationally significant habitats and species.

fidelity and social preference of the Encouraging results showed the the year’s ‘Big Pull’ campaign in tongue spearwort - to Inglestone activities including visiting the Zoo’s white-clawed crayfish. presence of moths at all the sites which members of the public were Common in South Gloucestershire. bug hub, meeting our bug rangers, surveyed. The maximum peak invited to pull up Himalayan balsam This plant is only found at one other completing a bug trail, watching a count was 230 moths – an increase – one of the main invasive weeds site in the UK and is in danger of bug show and pledging a patch for Avon Gorge and Downs on the maximum peak counts from responsible for eradicating native being lost. We have been growing bugs by promising to undertake Wildlife Project the past two years. species in the River Avon. We 400 ‘plug plants’ to a stage an insect-friendly action after their successfully cleared invasive plants where they are strong enough for Zoo visit. Over the summer more We work with partners to conserve It was a successful year for the from 43km of the River Avon over reintroduction during 2016. than 23,000 guests visited our bug one of the most important education programme of the the summer. hub; 4,773 people attended our botanical sites in the UK – the Avon Project; 13,680 people took part We have also been working with bugs talks; 5,411 guests watched Gorge. As it is also important for its in our walks, talks, courses, the National Botanic Garden of the lunchtime bug show and 5,273 White-clawed crayf ish invertebrates, we undertake annual educational visits and family or Rare plant conservation Wales to help reintroduce meadow pledges were made. monitoring of the silky wave moth community events. We had our clary to Rectory Meadow - a (the Gorge is the only English site best year ever for teaching school We have been involved in various protected site in Wales. Meadow Our ongoing project to safeguard where this UK species is found). groups, with more sessions taught projects to propagate and plant clary is a beautiful and rare species, the UK’s native white-clawed During the summer, all six priority in the autumn term than in any rare UK native plant species numbers of which have dwindled crayfish has seen additional sites along the Gorge were previous year. for reintroduction into the wild. at an alarming rate. We have been captive breeding groups set up surveyed once weekly for the ‘Bring Back the Buttercup’ is a working with this plant species in Gloucestershire, Somerset eight-week flight season. Seven partnership project to restore a rare since 2011, culminating in a and Hampshire this year, from satellite sites were also monitored. type of buttercup - the adder’s- reintroduction in 2015. We are now individuals bred at Bristol Zoo. An Invasive weeds growing 150 plants for bolstering important element of the project wild populations at a later date. involves boosting populations by We are working with local agencies releasing captive-born crayfish and community groups, as part into safe ‘ark sites’. This year over of the Avon Invasive Weeds 240 captive-bred crayfish were Forum, to protect the local native Guest conservation action 9,000 people visited the released into sites in Somerset biodiversity of the River Avon. This ‘Bugs!’ tent at the Bristol and Hampshire. We monitored includes controlling and reducing This year’s guest behaviour-change Festival of Nature. Our nine ark sites in Somerset and the negative impact of invasive campaign aimed to encourage found crayfish in six. We are also non-native weeds in the Bristol visitors to help native bug species aim was to increase conducting a research project with Avon catchment area. In July, Avon by creating a suitable habitat for positive attitudes towards Sparsholt College, looking at refuge Invasive Weeds Forum kick-started them. Guests could take part in invertebrates. 17 18 We hosted a two-day We provided a home for seven rare meeting of the British electric blue geckos confiscated by Autumn Veterinary Zoological customs officials at Heathrow airport. Society attended by The geckos, a Critically Endangered This year our team of 155 vets, nurses and species, were being smuggled into rangers gave 2,952 animal students. Talk subjects the country from Tanzania, believed talks to 96,292 guests. ranged from reptiles to to be destined for the pet trade. large zoo mammals.

October

Eating breakfast with the gorillas, taking a behind-the-scenes twilight tour among the animals and being cooked for by a private chef are just some of the perks of staying at The Lodge – our new luxury accommodation. Guests can watch the sun set and rise over the Zoo in this intimate and three nights this year, followed exclusive experience. December by Fright Night - two terrifying evenings of sell-out film-screenings Four tiny Visayan warty pigs were and blood-curdling after-dark born at the Zoo. The species is November experiences around the grounds. Critically Endangered, under threat from habitat loss and hunting, and Our annual Family Friendly Hundreds of tiny stick insect is found only on two of the Visayan Fireworks events sold out on all eggs arrived at the Zoo in an Islands in the central Philippines. international effort to save one of the world’s rarest insects. 300 We hosted three magical Lord Howe Island stick insect eggs Enchanted Christmas events at were flown over from Melbourne the Zoo attended by more than Zoo to set up a new breeding 6,500 people. programme to prevent the species from becoming extinct. Keepers also celebrated 40 years since the arrival of our oldest, heaviest, most wrinkly inhabitant - Biggie the giant tortoise - who arrived at the Zoo on Christmas Eve in 1975. 20 The year in Over 100 big-bellied Our development seahorses were born team raised £516,000 this year, taking our total this year. figures group to 128.

Total visitors to the Bristol Zoo website: 1,565,821 Where our money 6.33 million people Total number of guests to Bristol Zoo Gardens: watched the special 593,385 comes from ‘Where town meets Total visitors to the Wild Place Project website: 395,014 country’ episode of Admission income Pounds raised for the giraffe house appeal: 89,000 BBC1’s Countryfile which Gift Aid and gate donations featured a film about the Faces painted by Zoo volunteers this year: 8,768 Annual membership Miscellaneous rare plants of the Avon Hours donated by Zoo volunteers over the summer: 4,549 Grants and donations for field conservation Gorge. and research Number of animal talks given by Zoo rangers: 2,952 Fundraising and voluntary income Number of x-rays taken by our vets: 916 Retail sales and commission Catering commission Number of eggs laid by birds at Bristol Zoo Gardens: 763 Conference facilities Number of people who faced their fears on our Living with Spiders course: Other income generating activities (car parks, Where the money 49 events etc.) is spent Kilometres of Avon riverbank cleared of invasive plants: 43 Investment and property income Higher education Number of Hainan gibbons thought to be left in the world: 25 Number of local ‘toad patrols’ supported by Bristol Zoo: 19 Animals Number of West African dwarf crocodiles hatched in the Reptile House: 5 Marketing 40,061 pupils and Costs of generating income (shops, catering students were taught in costs, fundraising etc.) 1,557 education sessions Administration, HR, overheads etc. We retained our ISO14001 environmental at the Zoo this year. June Conservation and research projects management accreditation and continued was our busiest teaching Education (inc Big Bugs exhibition) our efforts to reduce our environmental Gardens, estates, maintenance and running month on record, with of the Zoo impacts from energy and water use, 7,212 pupils taught at Wild Place Project operating costs waste production and travel. Bristol Zoo Gardens. 21 22 Bristol Zoological Society would like to thank its staff, volunteers, members, partners, sponsors, donors and other affiliates who have supported us throughout 2015.

Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society Ltd Registered Charity No. 1104986 Registered in England No. 5154176