Posts
-------------------------------------------------------
Bristol Zoo gorilla fan gets on his bike to visit every sculpture
By The Editor
Aug 22, 2011
A fan of Bristol Zoo’s Wow! Gorillas project has cycled to all 61 sculptures – even visiting the gorilla in Birmingham.
Tony Hancy, 27, from St Paul’s, has cycled 220 miles, over four days to photograph all 61 gorillas around Greater Bristol and beyond.
His tour has taken him all over the city, as well as visiting the gorilla sculptures at Bristol Airport, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Costco in Avonmouth, WWT Slimbridge, Pill, Chipping Sodbury, Bitton Station and Birmingham Coach Station.
Tony, who is currently finishing his Masters in palaeobiology at the University of Bristol, said: “I’ve had a wonderful time cycling around the city and beyond, and seen a lot of sights that I may otherwise have never visited.
“Talking to other gorilla fans on my travels has shown me just how excited people have become over the concept, and I think it has been a brilliant opportunity for conservation outreach to the wider community.”
Tony is now planning on cycling to visit all 101 small schools’ gorillas over the next few weeks. He said: “I cycled to all the gorilla sculptures simply for the enjoyment of it but I am planning to do another cycle tour.
“I’d like to cycle to all of the mini gorillas and try and get sponsorship towards Bristol Zoo’s gorilla conservation projects and Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.”
Eventually Tony hopes to be able to fly to Cameroon, in West Africa, to visit Metet School, which also has a small gorilla sculpture of its own. Metet School was built by Ape Action Africa, an ape charity supported by Bristol Zoo, and is one of eight village schools visited as part the charity’s education programme to raise awareness about the threats to primates, such as gorillas, and to get local children actively involved in conservation.
If you don’t get the chance to see all the gorillas, the sculptures will be on display at the Zoo from Saturday, September 24 until Wednesday 28 (normal zoo admission applies). The sculpture entitled ‘Gorilla Tourist’, in Birmingham, will be outside the front of the Zoo for the public to visit.
Then, on September 29, the sculptures will be sold at a charity auction to raise money for Bristol Zoo’s gorilla conservation projects and Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, The Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
The auction is taking place at 7pm at the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, and will include a drinks reception and live music from leading Afro Celt band Baka Beyond.
Tickets for the auction are available for the auction from www.bristolzoo.org.uk/wow-gorillas or by phoning 0117 974 7300. Tickets are priced at £10 and spaces are strictly limited.
By The Editor
Aug 22, 2011
A fan of Bristol Zoo’s Wow! Gorillas project has cycled to all 61 sculptures – even visiting the gorilla in Birmingham.
Tony Hancy, 27, from St Paul’s, has cycled 220 miles, over four days to photograph all 61 gorillas around Greater Bristol and beyond.
His tour has taken him all over the city, as well as visiting the gorilla sculptures at Bristol Airport, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Costco in Avonmouth, WWT Slimbridge, Pill, Chipping Sodbury, Bitton Station and Birmingham Coach Station.
Tony, who is currently finishing his Masters in palaeobiology at the University of Bristol, said: “I’ve had a wonderful time cycling around the city and beyond, and seen a lot of sights that I may otherwise have never visited.
“Talking to other gorilla fans on my travels has shown me just how excited people have become over the concept, and I think it has been a brilliant opportunity for conservation outreach to the wider community.”
Tony is now planning on cycling to visit all 101 small schools’ gorillas over the next few weeks. He said: “I cycled to all the gorilla sculptures simply for the enjoyment of it but I am planning to do another cycle tour.
“I’d like to cycle to all of the mini gorillas and try and get sponsorship towards Bristol Zoo’s gorilla conservation projects and Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.”
Eventually Tony hopes to be able to fly to Cameroon, in West Africa, to visit Metet School, which also has a small gorilla sculpture of its own. Metet School was built by Ape Action Africa, an ape charity supported by Bristol Zoo, and is one of eight village schools visited as part the charity’s education programme to raise awareness about the threats to primates, such as gorillas, and to get local children actively involved in conservation.
If you don’t get the chance to see all the gorillas, the sculptures will be on display at the Zoo from Saturday, September 24 until Wednesday 28 (normal zoo admission applies). The sculpture entitled ‘Gorilla Tourist’, in Birmingham, will be outside the front of the Zoo for the public to visit.
Then, on September 29, the sculptures will be sold at a charity auction to raise money for Bristol Zoo’s gorilla conservation projects and Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, The Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
The auction is taking place at 7pm at the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, and will include a drinks reception and live music from leading Afro Celt band Baka Beyond.
Tickets for the auction are available for the auction from www.bristolzoo.org.uk/wow-gorillas or by phoning 0117 974 7300. Tickets are priced at £10 and spaces are strictly limited.
No comments:
Post a Comment