Bristol Zoo: Giant edible chocolate gorilla goes on display at zoo

Image source, Bristol Zoo Project

Imagine tucking in to this HUGE chocolate gorilla.

Well, sadly we can't eat it but we can look and admire it.

This giant golden edible sculpture is based on one of Bristol Zoo's most famous gorillas, called Alfred.

It's been created as part of the Edible Histories project which aims to celebrate the city's culture and history.

Alfred the gorilla

Image source, Bristol Zoo Project

Image caption, Artist Luke Jerram (L) and Justin Morris (R), CEO of Bristol Zoological Society, with Alfred the chocolate gorilla

The replica of Alfred is 1m tall (or 3.2ft) and weighs 45kg, that's similar to the weight of a baby hippo when they're born.

It's been sculpted by Zara's Chocolates, a local company, using Fairtrade chocolate.

Visitors will be able to see Alfred on display at the zoo until October.

Chocolate button

Image caption, The giant button is part of the Edible Histories project

This massive chocolate button is also one of the artworks for Edible Histories.

This project is part of a celebration to mark 650 years since King Edward III awarded the city of Bristol its royal charter, granting it special rights.

The chocolate button weighs 18kg - that's similar to the weight of a medium-sized dog.

The sculpture has a diameter of 1m (or 3.2ft), which is the size of a round dining table that could comfortably seat up to four people.

The giant gorilla and button are two of the five objects to be sculpted in Fairtrade chocolate that have been chosen to represent the city's trading history.

The others include a ship's wheel, and 2m (6ft) replica of Concorde, the high-speed passenger plane.

Edible Histories

Image caption, This is the button the chocolate is based on

These artworks look amazing, but everyone wants to know if you can eat them!

Well the five objects will be brought together for a free public event in the city centre in October. They'll then be broken up and given out to the public and local foodbanks.

Artist Luke Jerram said: "They represent Bristol's history of conservation and natural history work - something I really wanted to capture through Edible Histories.

"The city is home to dozens of charities, companies and other organisations working hard to protect our precious planet and the animals we share it with. That's something we should all be proud of, and support."