Urban explorers recently released footage of gorillas living at the closed Bristol Zoo, sparking concern from the public. The video showed overgrown grounds, deserted buildings, and a gorilla tapping on the window of an enclosure. The Bristol Zoological Society (BZS) defended the animals' well-being, stating they receive the same care and enrichment as before the zoo closed to visitors.

While some described the gorillas as the "world's loneliest," others, including former gorilla keeper Darrell Sawczuk, believe that the closed zoo is currently the best-case scenario for the captive animals. Sawczuk hopes the gorillas can eventually move to a sanctuary, but for now, the BZS is building them a new habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project. Conservation charity Born Free expressed concerns about the potential risks to staff and animals caused by the urban explorers' actions and highlighted welfare issues in British zoos, particularly concerning great apes.