Stop partying and start protecting! No more late night parties. On 5th August, Bristol Zoo Gardens held their “Big Night Out” event aimed at stags and hen dos all of which featured alcohol, live music and a silent disco. Undercover footage from the Captive Animal Protection Society (CAPS) featured highly stressed lions pacing rapidly up and down their enclosure while people drinking alcohol leant over enclosures whilst making no attempt to keep their voices down. A representative of the Zoo claimed that the event “does stress them out a bit… because there is so much going on which is unusual for them”. After watching the footage, Mark Bekoff, a former Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado in the US, stated that: “These lions are clearly highly stressed. They are pacing back and forth and extremely vigilant. If they behaved like this every day I’d imagine they’d suffer from severe psychological problems from this level of stress.” After complaints about the animals’ wellbeing the zoo stated that the representative was not an official zookeeper and the animals were monitored all evening, had access to off-show dens with the noise levels being strictly monitored. However, complaints on the Zoos Facebook page suggested that the noise of the event could be heard two miles away. Late night parties at other Zoos have caused controversy before. In London Zoo in 2014, a man poured beer over a tiger’s head and another asked a zookeeper what penguin he could fight. Animal welfare in zoos is sometimes at risk in normal opening hours when alcohol is not provided however by allowing alcohol at zoo events, it seems likely that the animals’ safety is at a greater risk as some people may not be responsible around animals when under the influence of alcohol. With the combination of live music and 1400 people fuelled with alcohol, the event poses a great risk to the animals’ mental well being, safety and causes them distress at a time when they are not used to visitors. Two more of these late night parties are scheduled to run this summer on 26th August and 2nd September, both promising alcohol and live music. Please sign and share this petition to ask Bristol Zoo Gardens to cancel ALL late night parties and to focus on the welfare of their animals rather than creating nights out for the public. Also, please complain to Bristol Zoo Gardens on their Facebook page or by emailing either guestservices@bristolzoo.org.uk and information@bristolzoo.org.uk To find more information about the Captive Animal Protection Society and this campaign please visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/captiveanimals/ To find more information about the events in question at Bristol Zoo Gardens please visit: http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on/sunset-specials​ http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on/members-summer-event #EndPartiesAtZoos #ProtectNotParty