Bristol launches campaign to highlight global work
A Bristol-based conservation and education charity is launching its’ first ever UK brand campaign to increase awareness of its’ global efforts to protect threatened species.
Bristol Zoological Society, which owns and runs Bristol Zoo Project in South Gloucestershire, is going live with its ‘Destination Conservation’ campaign this week.
It’s been made possible thanks to a £360,000 grant from Ocean Outdoor’s annual environmental fund, Drops in the Ocean, which grants advertising space to charities across the UK.
Destination Conservation aims to showcase the Society’s global conservation efforts and to promote the zoo as a major tourist destination, where every visitor is making a difference to species in crisis.
The distinctive coats of threatened species, such as giraffe and cheetah, have been used as billboard ads to help direct people to the zoo. They’ll be shown at key locations across the UK, including Heathrow Airport, until the end of August.
’This is a really exciting moment for us as we launch our first ever conservation-focused campaign,’ explains Brian Zimmerman, Director of Conservation and Science at Bristol Zoological Society.
‘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.’
Cheetahs at Bristol Zoo Project. Image: © Doug Lodge
‘Animals living in larger, natural habitats’
‘Currently, 85% of animals at Bristol Zoo Project are both threatened and part of targeted conservation programmes. Our aim is for this to rise to 90% by 2035.’
‘We are on a journey to create a new, progressive conservation zoo with animals living in larger, natural habitats.’
‘It will be perfectly placed to engage and inspire the conservationists of the future – ensuring future generations come face-to-face with animals in nature.’
‘We hope with the launch of Destination Conservation, we can reach new and wider audiences, and even more people will join our mission to Save Wildlife Together.’
The creative concept and designs for the campaign were devised by saintnicks, a Bristol based communications agency.
‘We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Bristol Zoological Society – a charity rooted in our local community whose commitment to conservation has an incredible impact globally,’ says Fraser Bradshaw, saintnicks’ CEO.
‘The work their team is doing to protect wildlife and ecosystems, both in our local community and around the world, is truly inspiring, and we’re proud to play a part in helping amplify their mission.’
Work is underway on an African Forest habitat, where the zoo’s troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas will be joined by Endangered cherry-crowned mangabey monkeys. It’s a ‘first’ for a UK zoo.
The area will further be a home to Critically Endangered slender-snouted crocodiles and several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish.
Endangered African grey parrots, which have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, will also be living in the habitat.
Endangered ring-tailed lemur at Bristol Zoo Project. Image: © Olivia Williams
‘Destination Conservation perfectly meets our needs as a charity’
‘Saintnicks took significant time to discover more about Bristol Zoo Project and our conservation work, and showed genuine interest in our impact and how we might engage more people with this,’ explains Matthew Philpott, Head of Marketing at Bristol Zoological Society.
“We believe Destination Conservation perfectly meets our needs as a charity – communicating that our dedicated teams carry out vital conservation work in the UK and around the world.’
‘By visiting Bristol Zoo Project people can experience the incredible species in our care, which need support. Simply by visiting, they are enabling us to continue and further our work.’
‘We are truly grateful for the support of both saintnicks and Ocean Outdoor, and excited to have the opportunity to share the stories of the species which need all of our help.’
Breaktime News previously reported on the first public appearance of an extremely rare and tiny deer fawn at Bristol Zoo Project.