If you go down to Bristol City Centre next summer you’re sure of a big surprise. A series of five foot gorilla sculptures are set to be appearing around the city as part of Bristol Zoo’s 175th birthday celebration.
The white gorilla sculptures are being sponsored by different businesses, charities and schools who will then get to decorate them before having them displayed across the city. The event, called Wow Gorillas, is not only a fun and different way for the zoo to mark its birthday and raise funds, but also aims to raise awareness of gorilla conservation projects around the world.
Dr Bryan Carroll, Director of Bristol Zoo Gardens, (pictured between two gorilla sculptures) said in a press release: “We want our birthday year to be a city-wide celebration of all that is great about Bristol and its people. Our exciting Wow! Gorillas project will showcase the creativity of Bristol while attracting visitors to the city thus stimulating the local economy, and will be the highlight of the year. We hope the colourful sculptures will be enjoyed by thousands of Bristolians and visitors to the city. As well as being great fun, these gorillas will help convey vital messages about the extinction crisis facing gorillas and the other apes in the wild, and will help support our work to save gorillas and other apes in Cameroon.”
Wild apes, including gorillas are under the constant threat of hunting, disease, and deforestation. When the Wow! Gorillas display is finished, the decorated gorillas will go up for auction, proceeds going to a local charity, as well as raising funds for a gorilla conservation project.
Lucy Parkinson, PR Manager for Bristol Zoo told us:
“We have received a great deal of interest from local businesses interested in sponsoring our ‘Wow! Gorilla’ sculptures. They recognise the benefits and returns they will get from being involved in this exciting city-wide project. Since the project launched eight days ago we have received payment from sponsors for four gorillas, and have had a verbal commitment from several other organisations. Dozens more businesses and charities are very interested and we are keen to take this project forward with them, and any other organisations interested in getting involved.”
For more information about Bristol Zoo’s Wow! Gorillas project and on how to sponsor a gorilla please visit www.wowgorilla.org.uk. As always we will keep you informed as to how the project is progressing, and hopefully show you some of the weird and wonderful designs popping up around the city.
