Im assuming not but did any of the Aspinalls ever go into Djala’s enclosure with him when he was in Kent?
Howletts Wild Animal Park Howletts Wild Animal Park news 2020
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Im assuming not but did any of the Aspinalls ever go into Djala’s enclosure with him when he was in Kent?
I wouldn't be surprised if they did, TBH.
They weren’t for a long time I believe, nor BIAZA either. I don’t know whether they were ultimately forced to join.
They probably would have done when he was young. He came as a singleton around the same time they received Koulliou, Soundu, Sangha and others so I am sure there would have been some interaction early on. But after he matured and had his own group, probably not, though it was visitors, particularly children he disliked the most, a reaction to his early experiences after capture. He probably had a better/different relationship with staff. But only certain males there have ever been suitable for 'going in with' as silverbacks - Kijo, Djoum, Kifu and possibly Ebeki, though not sure about the last one.
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Black rhino is I believe one of the species they have to date had better success with reintroduction-wise. But I do not know anything about the viability of this current plan.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Perhaps my doubts are misplaced, its just it seemed to me to be a totally ridiculous idea , but maybe I just dont know enough about the conditions on the ground in these countries as DA apparently does.
There are several other East African countries though that strike me as being far better / more viable options for potentially risky reintroductions than either Somalia or Sudan though.
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The latter from the IUCN reintroduction criteria perspectives' is currently a no go area for black rhino. I rather would take that risk with the white rhino.
I do hope the EAZA will intervene on this one as the PL and Howletts' rhinos are part and parcel of the EEP (and not owned by DA or Aspinall Parks) and this really is the illest-advised project for now DA has come up with.
First and foremost both Somalia (I am not talking about either Puntland or Northern Somaliland) and Sudan require first and foremost constructive investment in their current protected area system and species conservation programmes on the ground for native species already under threat.
I mean this is the Horn of Africa with many locally endemic and critically endangered species and one of the unsafest territories in Africa. I include for reference purposes here also areas like the Near East and Central Asia with Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq as some of the worst and not dissimilar examples of civil strife, areas unsafe for all local nationals and ridden with inter militias' strife and warfare and the local civil population always the No. 1 victims.
Are you sure about that? The founder stock, at least the females, would certainly have been owned by themselves, so why not all those produced from that? Unless they officially transferred them to EEP 'ownership' ?
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
Talking about animals sent back to the Wild by the Aspinall foundation.Did any of you Zoochatter’s know that Janu the Howeletts born African Bull Elephant who now resides at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm,was inches away from being sent back to Africa? I’m personally relieved that Daimian did not follow through with realising Janu as he now has a long and healthy life ahead of him and may even become a breeding Bull 8n an European Zoo,Safari or Wildlife Park.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, I totally agree Kifaru and this is why I think that such a plan to reintroduce black rhino to these countries in particular without the improvements that you mention seems to be a fools game.
Most of their breeding stock has been mixed now with EEP owned breeders. They would need consent from locations like Dvur Kralove and the like, I would assume. Also, if not actively working within the EEP means that ownership would be claimed by the institutions loaning out stock to them (and resultant offspring as per usual divisions).
Yes, but the majority of their animals are still not loaned to them by anyone else, they were born there and descended from animals they owned initially. So presumably those specimens they could still do as they please with? So in the rhinos, some are theirs, while others the EEP would have an 'interest' in (unless all were made over to EEP which I rather doubt). Its a similar situation with their gorillas. They have a few that have come in on breeding loans/exchanges from European zoos, but more are home-produced from their own original stock, which is presumably why they can send any of those on reintroduction schemes if they wished.
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So the plan was to send all three back - according to Mr Aspinall they weren’t allowed to send Tyson or Beebee back as both were at the zoo on loan...so these two went to Dvur Kralove (and have since had a son there!!) earlier in the year - leaving their daughter Tembe at Howletts who is likely to be released once they can find a place to send her to...
Really? Dvur has not announced any birth yet. But this would be great news...
I heard a rumour they had - it may of course prove to be false...
The whole thing smacks of DA wanting to close down his zoo operations all together!
They have had - somewhat - good relations with Zoo Dvur Kralove, but that may have changed since DA seems all out now to release stock from both zoo facilities he owns.
I am still unsure as to the black rhino ownership issues, though!
(will look how related the newer generations are to EEP stocks)
They have had - somewhat - good relations with Zoo Dvur Kralove, but that may have changed since DA seems all out now to release stock from both zoo facilities he owns.
I am still unsure as to the black rhino ownership issues, though!
(will look how related the newer generations are to EEP stocks)
I think it is more a change of direction, as he stated on here recently. And they very recently said they are in the process of bringing in rescued bears and lions, which doesn't sound like a closure on the horizon.
Ownership of the rhinos is probably pretty complicated by now. I think it is for some of their other species too, particularly those involved in EEP programmes.
The black rhino were involved in the EEP programme. I would have thought if they are thrown out altogether - which is quite likely now - they will have to send back several rhinos elsewhere, including a very valuable breeding bull (which Howletts/Port Lympne are lacking right now).
Change of direction fine, but it is conflicting with general EAZA/EEP policies and as such all animals out on loan to Howletts/Port Lympne will revert back to the collections they came from. I am sure that is the last thing zoo management wish for and is undesirable.
Further, I do think this whole rescue policy is a dead end one. Contrary to what DA might think it will never ever change the status nor the general public perceptions or concerns for natural world and protected wilderness in range countries. If one wants to improve this it is right to invest in countries like Bulgaria and Romania and animal welfare, raising zoo standards and the general status of wildlife protection in these countries (and as a bonus probably a better environment in a managed release program in country than somewhere far out of range.