The Bristol Zoo Project has released a statement saying intruders are "distressing" the gorillas at its former site, Bristol Zoo Gardens, which closed in 2022.
The UK zoo said it has been dealing with break-ins at its old site, where its gorilla troop remains "cared for by their keepers until their new home is ready at Bristol Zoo Project".
It also said "there is a lot of concern from the public about the welfare of the gorillas" since the Bristol Zoo Gardens site closed, leading to break-ins.
"It was always our plan for the gorilla troop to remain at Bristol Zoo Gardens until their new African Forest habitat was completed at Bristol Zoo Project," it added.
"They remain cared for by the same team of keepers, and have exactly the same routine they had when the zoo was open to the public."
The Bristol Zoo Project said some trespassers "have posted on social media, often with untrue and inflammatory information about the gorillas".
Gorillas set to move to new home
The zoo is referring to footage in which the animals appear lonely and abandoned, which has sparked "concern about the welfare of the gorillas".
"The publicity has in turn led to yet more break-ins, which pose a huge danger not only to the gorillas, but to the trespassers themselves," the Bristol Zoo Project said.
Whenever someone breaks in, it added, the alarm system is triggered, which "distresses the gorilla troop". This can result in the animals losing sleep, and therefore feeling "groggy and lethargic".
Work is nearly completed on the zoo's new African Forest habitat, where the gorillas will live in an area four and a half times the size of their current home.
Until then, the Bristol Zoo Project is urging people not to share "the fact-less videos on social media" as it "only encourages further break-ins and endangers our troop of gorillas".
Images courtesy of Bristol Zoo Project
