17/07/2008 06:13:00
Bristol Zoo Gardens has submitted a £70m pioneering proposal for a world wildlife reserve to be built in the city's northern outskirts.
The proposed 55 hectare National Wildlife Conservation Park (NWCP), which has been designed to link ecosystems and conservation programmes from across the world, will be the first park of its kind in the United Kingdom.
It is anticipated to set a new benchmark exemplifying how parks and zoos can uphold conservation in the wild, as well as establishing a more prominent role for such institutions in the global conservation movement.
Bristol Zoo Gardens director Dr Jo Gipps said that, despite submitting a plan, the Zoo still has a major fundraising task ahead. However, this aspect of the project is already under consideration and has various opportunities in view.
Dr Jipps told BBC News, "We are going to launch a campaign with organisations, corporations and rich individuals who will want to buy into this notion.
"[Visitors] stepping through the gates of the park will be transported from the normality of the [South] Gloucestershire countryside to an amazing world of wildlife.
"The park will aim to make the children of today, the conservationists of tomorrow."
The south west England NWCP will be divided into various exhibit areas, including the Congo Tropical Forest, Sumatra Rainforest, British Ancient Woodland and Indian Ocean Coral Reef. These exhibits will house both exotic and native animals such as tigers, black tip sharks, bonobos, chimpanzees and brown bears.
The first phase of the National Wildlife Conservation Park is scheduled to open in 2012.
