Magic’s finally over at TV star Johnny’s zoo

BRISTOL Zoo, the world’s oldest provincial zoo, shut its doors yesterday after 186 years at its Clifton site.

Visitors came from all over the UK to mark the end of an era at the site, made famous by BBC Animal Magic presenter Johnny Morris during his outside broadcasts. A gold plaque was put up saying, ‘Thank you for the memories’.

Since it opened, more than 90million people have passed through its doors but the pandemic saw numbers plunge.

Bristol Zoological Society said it was forced to sell the site and move five miles away to the Wild Place Project. The new zoo is expected to open in 2024 and some animals will stay in Clifton until new enclosures are built.