Plans to create first 'eco-zoo'

The park would be home to wild animals such as brown bears

Plans to build a £70m wildlife conservation park near Bristol have been submitted by Bristol Zoo.

The zoo said the wildlife park would be the first "eco-friendly" animal attraction of its kind in the UK and hoped it would be open by 2012.

One special feature would be the tiger enclosure, where visitors could use a transparent covered walkway to be on the same eye-level as the creatures.

The park, covering 136 acres, would be located opposite Cribbs Causeway.

'Amazing world'

Bristol Zoo said the park would show how zoos could support conservation in the wild and would link up with conservation programmes across the world.

Dr Jo Gipps, of Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: "Submitting detailed plans to South Gloucestershire Council is an exciting and important step forward in the development of this ground breaking project.

"Stepping through the gates of the park, visitors will be transported from the normality of the Gloucestershire countryside to an amazing world of wildlife.

"Visitors will feel immersed in ecosystems from all over the world, engaged in active conservation programmes and inspired to make their own real contribution to sustainable living."