Couple say 'I do' at Bristol Zoo - 17/01/12
A visitor to Bristol Zoo Gardens got more than she bargained for on a day trip to the attraction recently, when her boyfriend proposed in the gorilla house.
Neil Crawford asked Claire Miles to marry him whilst on a romantic day out and arranged for a private viewing inside the gorilla house, where he popped the question.
Neil, an I.T consultant from Keynsham, explains: “Claire and I have been together for three years and I decided the time was right to ask her to marry me. My sister helped me choose a ring and then I started thinking about how to go about proposing in a unique and memorable way.
“Claire loves animals, particularly monkeys and gorillas, and the Zoo’s baby gorilla is currently her favourite. She had wanted to visit the Zoo to see him for some time, so I hit upon the idea of proposing at Bristol Zoo.”
He added: “I contacted Bristol Zoo to explain my plan and offered to make a donation to their conservation work in return for a few moments alone in the gorilla house after closing time. Fortunately they were happy to arrange it and were really helpful.”
Meanwhile, Neil’s sister arranged for the couple’s family and close friends to be visiting the Zoo on the same day, so they could celebrate with them.
Neil said: “When the day cameI was so nervous I could hardly string a sentence together, I had to keep delaying her so we didn’t get to the gorilla enclosure before it was ready. I was pretending to take photos while texting my sister to make sure we were not going to bump into the hidden guests. I made Claire go back and look at the same Cassowary three times trying to stall her, we went round the aviary twice and spent so long in Zona Brazil that I think we are now eligible for a passport. Basically she thought I had gone bananas!”
He added: “Once we got to the gorilla house, staff had closed the house to the public as normal, but the keeper gave me a subtle nod and in we went. It was quite strange to have an audience of gorillas watching while I proposed, but it was certainly a special moment – and luckily Claire said yes!”
Neil and Claire’s friends and family then joined them in the gorilla house to toast their news with champagne and their parents made them a gift of an annual membership to the Zoo, to return as often as they like, all year round.
Bristol Zoo’s overseer of mammals, Rob Rouse, looks after the gorillas, and was only too happy to help with the special request. He said: “It was exciting to be part of a secret such as this, and we were happy to be able to help. We would like to thank Neil for his generous donation to Bristol Zoo’s conservation work which will help further our efforts with endangered animals, such as the gorillas. We wish the couple sincere congratulations and best wishes for the future.”
Love continues to be in the air at Bristol Zoo next month in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Visitors to the Zoo can enjoy discounted entry for two adults from Saturday February 11thuntil Tuesday February 14th, and the Zoo is the perfect destination for a Valentine’s Day trip.
With more than 400 species, animal passion is always in the air - from Shiva and Kamal the Asiatic lions, Jasmina the red panda and her new mate, Sir Ed, or Jock the silverback gorilla and his two companions, Romina and Salome - there is plenty for visitors to see at Bristol Zoo.
To redeem a Valentine’s voucher to admit two adults to Bristol Zoo for just £20 (instead of the usual price of £29), visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk
Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work in the zoo, but also its vital conservation and research projects spanning five continents.
To find out more about Bristol Zoo, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300.
ENDS
For more information please contact Bristol Zoo’s press office:
Lucy King, T: 0117 974 7306, or email: lking@bristolzoo.org.uk
Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, email: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk
Notes to the Editor:
Bristol Zoo Gardens
- Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work.
- Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
- Itemploys over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work.
- Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
- In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrated its 175th birthday. Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 millionschool-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
- In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
