Port Lympne Wild Animal Park African Lion rewilding

Lafone

Lafone

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Aspinall posts he is going to rewild a lion. But the odd thing is in that photo he’s sitting right next to the lion inside it’s enclosure.

How is habituating a wild animal to handling in person mimicking any form of wild behaviour? Surely it’s the least wild thing you can do really.

It’s more like a circus or someone on a Netflix show.

What happens if this lion is sent to ‘the wild’ and thinks people are really cool to be around. Just seems really weird but all this ‘send them back ‘home’ stuff is odd.
 
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Lafone said:
Related though to lions vs elephants it’s the same sort of thing.

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Aspinall posts he is going to rewild a lion. But the odd thing is in that photo he’s sitting right next to the lion inside it’s enclosure.

How is habituating a wild animal to handling in person mimicking any form of wild behaviour? Surely it’s the least wild thing you can do really.

It’s more like a circus or someone on a Netflix show.

What happens if this lion is sent to ‘the wild’ and thinks people are really cool to be around. Just seems really weird but all this ‘send them back ‘home’ stuff is odd.
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If the lion in question to be released is the adolescent male he’s pictured with, then it won’t last five minutes alone in the wild. With no coalition, he doesn’t stand a chance of integrating into/taking over a pride or surviving a fight with rival lions.

His hunting skills will be severely impaired by his lack of experience and he’ll likely turn to easier sources of prey from nearby farms/villages if he’s anywhere near one.

Did the rewinding of Elsa work? Barely. She clung to the humans she’d depended on all her life for support; but at least as a lioness, she was able to grow her pride by producing 2.1 cubs (who survived partly thanks to the support of those who cares for Elsa).
 
Zoofan15 said:
If the lion in question to be released is the adolescent male he’s pictured with, then it won’t last five minutes alone in the wild. With no coalition, he doesn’t stand a chance of integrating into/taking over a pride or surviving a fight with rival lions.

His hunting skills will be severely impaired by his lack of experience and he’ll likely turn to easier sources of prey from nearby farms/villages if he’s anywhere near one.

Did the rewinding of Elsa work? Barely. She clung to the humans she’d depended on all her life for support; but at least as a lioness, she was able to grow her pride by producing 2.1 cubs (who survived partly thanks to the support of those who cares for Elsa).
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Does appear to be the same one as it’s referenced as they are handling it with multiple people in multiple pictures. It seems a shame that these animals are so at the whim of an agenda.
 
Zoofan15 said:
If the lion in question to be released is the adolescent male he’s pictured with, then it won’t last five minutes alone in the wild. With no coalition, he doesn’t stand a chance of integrating into/taking over a pride or surviving a fight with rival lions.
Click to expand...

I'm presuming that it is, and that it is the single survivor of the litter that was born at Port Lympne during very cold weather last winter. Their older siblings were present and from what appeared on the live camera feed at the time, they crushed and/or ate the small cubs, this last one being removed for handraising. He is the only Lion of that age they have I think. But I believe one from the subsequent litter has been placed with him for company, perhaps only as a temporary arrangement? If anyone can clarify further if this is correct or not, I'd be interested.
 
Pertinax said:
I'm presuming that it is, and that it is the single survivor of the litter that was born at Port Lympne during very cold weather last winter. Their older siblings were present and from what appeared on the live camera feed at the time, they crushed and/or ate the small cubs, this last one being removed for handraising. He is the only Lion of that age they have I think. But I believe one from the subsequent litter has been placed with him for company, perhaps only as a temporary arrangement? If anyone can clarify further if this is correct or not, I'd be interested.
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I honestly can’t see any scenario where this would be successful. Even if he had brothers and they were released as part of a coalition, they’d struggle to fend off challenges to any pride they managed to secure while in their prime years.

If he’s hellbent on rewilding lions, his best chance stands with a pride of lionesses who could at least support each other and increase their numbers/support through breeding.

How successful these lionesses would be in hunting after a life spent in captivity is anyone’s guess; but what’s guaranteed is that sending this juvenile male to Africa is a death sentence. It’s surprising those responsible are acting indifferent to that fact.
 
Pertinax said:
I'm presuming that it is, and that it is the single survivor of the litter that was born at Port Lympne during very cold weather last winter. Their older siblings were present and from what appeared on the live camera feed at the time, they crushed and/or ate the small cubs, this last one being removed for handraising. He is the only Lion of that age they have I think. But I believe one from the subsequent litter has been placed with him for company, perhaps only as a temporary arrangement? If anyone can clarify further if this is correct or not, I'd be interested.
Click to expand...
Think this is true
 
Lafone said:
Related though to lions vs elephants it’s the same sort of thing.

Login • Instagram

Aspinall posts he is going to rewild a lion. But the odd thing is in that photo he’s sitting right next to the lion inside it’s enclosure.

How is habituating a wild animal to handling in person mimicking any form of wild behaviour? Surely it’s the least wild thing you can do really.

It’s more like a circus or someone on a Netflix show.

What happens if this lion is sent to ‘the wild’ and thinks people are really cool to be around. Just seems really weird but all this ‘send them back ‘home’ stuff is odd.
Click to expand...
This is a joke is this guy for real ?
 
Lafone said:
Related though to lions vs elephants it’s the same sort of thing.

Login • Instagram

Aspinall posts he is going to rewild a lion. But the odd thing is in that photo he’s sitting right next to the lion inside it’s enclosure.

How is habituating a wild animal to handling in person mimicking any form of wild behaviour? Surely it’s the least wild thing you can do really.

It’s more like a circus or someone on a Netflix show.

What happens if this lion is sent to ‘the wild’ and thinks people are really cool to be around. Just seems really weird but all this ‘send them back ‘home’ stuff is odd.
Click to expand...
Surely this is a disaster waiting to happen in the comments he says they keep humans away and yet he was hand reared and he’s sat with him ! Poor lion
 
Indeed, without an established group of other lions, this lion, regardless of what one thinks about the impacts of zoo reintroduction on hunting skills, is ultimately doomed either way...
Makes me wonder what future lies for the rest of the animals in Damian's parks..
 
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dillotest0 said:
Makes me wonder what future lies for the rest of the animals in Damian's parks..
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Howletts will likely return to a private family estate, with perhaps only the gorillas remaining. Those animals that can’t be “set free” (the “zoo tigers” for example) will die out and won’t be replaced.

PL will likely be sold off and remain a over-priced glamping experience.

Damian Aspinall will continue to preach how much of an under-appreciated visionary he is and will make a run for PM (hey, it could happen -look at Trump…actually don’t!)

In all seriousness, both zoo’s are gradually becoming undesirable to visit. What’s the point of visiting Howletts without it’s elephants? And what is the point of Port Lympne? Both sites were a big part of my childhood and used to be such a treat because you were guaranteed to see curiosities or groups of animals you’d never see elsewhere.
 
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