Brian Zimmerman

Brian Zimmerman joined Bristol Zoological Society (BZS) as director of conservation and science in 2020. He leads the organisation’s animal, veterinary services and field conservation and science departments, including higher education.

BZS is a conservation and education charity based in Bristol, UK, that works to safeguard wildlife across the world. Its activities include conservation science research, initiatives to protect species and habitats overseas, promoting sustainable behaviours and perceptions, and providing both education and connection with nature through its visitor attraction, Bristol Zoo Project.

Zimmerman played a key role in BZS’s recent brand campaign, which sought to showcase its conservation efforts across the globe and to promote the work of Bristol Zoo Project, which is owned and run by the Society.

Zimmerman said: “This is a really exciting moment for us as we launch our first-ever conservation-focused campaign.

“Many people have heard of Bristol Zoo the visitor attraction, but don’t realise that we are so much more than that.

“As a conservation and education charity working in nine countries across four continents, we are working to conserve and protect the world’s most threatened species.”

BZS is also working to create a new conservation zoo, where at least 80 percent of species are connected to its conservation work in the UK and worldwide.

The Central African Forest habitat will house the zoo’s existing group of western lowland gorillas, who will be accompanied by a new group of endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys, critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles, endangered African grey parrots, and a number of threatened species of West African freshwater fish.

Zimmerman has over three decades of experience in conservation and joined BZS from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Here, he served as head keeper of the aquarium and curator of the aquarium before being appointed as the society’s chief zoological officer. In this position, he led the curatorial team and species planning at both London and Whipsnade Zoos.

His work spans all taxa, and he has a particular interest in freshwater fishes. As such, Zimmerman is chair of the EAZA Freshwater Teleost Taxon Advisory Group and co-chair of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group. He also serves as chair of EAZA EEP Committee, as special advisor to the AZA Freshwater Fish TAG and Marine Invertebrate TAG, and is a member of the European Union of Aquarium Curators.