Bristol Zoo's Explorer's Creek is excellent

When Chopsy Baby visited Bristol Zoo to try out their new interactive exhibit Explorer’s Creek, we also had a good taste of how efficient their overall operation was.

We were massively impressed at the way Bristol Zoo handle lost children. Within seconds of losing our test child, the panic written into our faces as we crashed through the gorilla talk identified us immediately to a member of staff who took us to the lost child centre.

Our lost child was found within minutes thanks to a network of friendly staff completely on the ball faced with the difficult task of finding a boy who ‘looks like a girl’.

When asked which was the child’s favourite animal, it is obvious now that the answers the lions and the mac macs would not help conservation professionals, but anyone with an interest in Pingu would know where to go.

The new Explorer’s Creek excelled expectations, and we only made it around one third of the section.

The previously forgotten Wallace Aviary is now revitalised with a water play area, a tropical bird house and a walk-through parrot feeding area. It has been brilliantly done, the Zoo really have got it right.

They are also working on a large aerial rope course to be opened later this year.

Over the years, the zoo has banished the concrete pits prevalent in the 70s and 80s, and has really established itself as a genuine centre of conservation.

The work it has done on the Explorer’s Creek has given parents with tots a lovely area for them to splash safely, while older children have the run of the playground.

This is a bold and clever move that will have annual members queuing up to renew their membership. Worked for us.