To boast its attraction I would favour a more zoo-geographical approach to species management and presentation (I know the philosophy at PL is to provide optimal housing and husbandry practice). So, banteng with the Malayan tapir, Sumatran tiger and their Indonesian primates in an Asian rainforest theme. An endangered islands exhibit with anoa, babirusa and perhaps even Komodo dragons (I wish they would really improve their bird and reptile/amphibian collection).
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park New species/Personal vision for port lympne wild animal park and gardens@Ashford Kent
- Thread starter Cat-Man
- Start date
Elephant accomodation- so would I but I fear its unlikely given the enormous expense involved.
GI Rhinos- they were offered some from India some years ago but for some reason they declined. A pity as the flat land at the bottom of the Park would make ideal enclosures for them and they would no doubt have succeeded with them- as with Black Rhino.
Orangutans- they have never had them as old Aspinall was not fond of them. That's not to say they couldn't do well with them nowadays but it seems a bit unlikely unless they were offered some which is how they seem to aquire some of their new species nowadays.
As I agree entirely with the Aspinall ethos of keeping animals i would not change much i would add a few enclosures as would be apropriate.
I would add a tiger enclosure where the barbary lions are. Add a leopard complex near where the lynxes are.
I would renovate the Elephant house and a chimp complex near it like the gorilla pavillions including the outside paddock.
At the entrance i would take out the barbary lions next to the siberian tigers and put bengals in there (pure ones when found) i would also add a Bear enclosure for himilayans near where the wolves are.
I would also add Greater horned rhinos next to the Water buffolos.
I believe that even after the zoos creators have died the orignal ethos should stay and at these parks it was allways 'Animals come first' and i heavily agree it should stay.
I would add a tiger enclosure where the barbary lions are. Add a leopard complex near where the lynxes are.
I would renovate the Elephant house and a chimp complex near it like the gorilla pavillions including the outside paddock.
At the entrance i would take out the barbary lions next to the siberian tigers and put bengals in there (pure ones when found) i would also add a Bear enclosure for himilayans near where the wolves are.
I would also add Greater horned rhinos next to the Water buffolos.
I believe that even after the zoos creators have died the orignal ethos should stay and at these parks it was allways 'Animals come first' and i heavily agree it should stay.
Not a good idea, in my opinion.
Why change the best gorilla exhibit in the country? Particularly as it would not suit orangs nearly as well. To make it worse, they might have to fell a lot of mature trees to keep orangs in.
I think PL could use the woodland in the centre of the park for more open-topped monkey enclosures - especially for their drills. They could expand their lemur collection too, although it is already one of the best in the country. At the bottom of the park they could easily accommodate some more medium-sized ungulates (pigs or smaller antelope) and I'd love to see them fit in some civets, binturong or (better still) fossa.
Alan
I agree with Gentle Lemur Palace of the apes should stay with gorillas it is a truly fantastic enclosure and it was built for Gorillas and is fantastic for that purpose.
If Howletts and Port Lympne continue to keep Gorillas,And other African Primates that is fine as there are plenty of other zoos that keep Orangs - Monkey World,Blackpool Zoo,Paignton Zoo and plenty that keep Gibbons.
Personally i wouldnt add Orangs to the collection i would only change what i have stated above.
Regards
If Howletts and Port Lympne continue to keep Gorillas,And other African Primates that is fine as there are plenty of other zoos that keep Orangs - Monkey World,Blackpool Zoo,Paignton Zoo and plenty that keep Gibbons.
Personally i wouldnt add Orangs to the collection i would only change what i have stated above.
Regards
I went to Port Lympne today, I don't know if this has been mentioned, but a Brown Hyena was there, in an enclosure by the Painted dogs near to the Malayan tapirs.
There was a travel box with Czech writing on, and the keepers were setting up foot dips and that, so I assume he was a new arrival? He was exploring a lot too.
I loved the park, never been before. I love the open top primate enclosure with the De'brazzas and Colobus, and Palace of the apes was very impressive. However I hated the small round cage which only appeared to hold one Gorilla by the open top primate exhibit, was pretty small with only the tiny indoor area. I think they should hose Indian rhinos in the Malayan tapir enclosure, I assume it was the Sumatran rhino enclosure? It's very impresive
Also, a few pics of RSCC uploaded, will do some more when I'm not tired.
There was a travel box with Czech writing on, and the keepers were setting up foot dips and that, so I assume he was a new arrival? He was exploring a lot too.
I loved the park, never been before. I love the open top primate enclosure with the De'brazzas and Colobus, and Palace of the apes was very impressive. However I hated the small round cage which only appeared to hold one Gorilla by the open top primate exhibit, was pretty small with only the tiny indoor area. I think they should hose Indian rhinos in the Malayan tapir enclosure, I assume it was the Sumatran rhino enclosure? It's very impresive
Also, a few pics of RSCC uploaded, will do some more when I'm not tired.
(
I would not stick in GOH rhinos in with Malayan tapirs: biologically a zoogeographical nightmare and behaviorally inept (these rhinos - opposed to the rather placid Sumatrans - are notoriously aggressive). I would not risk a very successful Malayan tapir captive-breeding programme for the want of visual beautification with Indian rhinos either.
Sumatrans would probably be fine, but so few to get around these days ...! I suppose nowadays PL/JAF would more or less support in situ activities in Indonesia and Malaysia more than trying to re-acquire them (not that they would not have the management capabilities to house and breed them - I think they full well do and probably even better than Cincin.).
On the topic of orangs: PL and Howletts are not exactly major tourist traps and the attendance figures and financial situation after Aspinall Sr. death have been a matter of concern for years ... I think and feel they need several visitor attractions - giraffe, better ele facilities at PL (an eye-sore), orangs and should similarly invest in expanding their bird and reptile/amphibian collections (a non entry sit at the moment and sadly so).
I went to Port Lympne today, I don't know if this has been mentioned, but a Brown Hyena was there, in an enclosure by the Painted dogs near to the Malayan tapirs.
There was a travel box with Czech writing on, and the keepers were setting up foot dips and that, so I assume he was a new arrival? He was exploring a lot too.
I loved the park, never been before. I love the open top primate enclosure with the De'brazzas and Colobus, and Palace of the apes was very impressive. However I hated the small round cage which only appeared to hold one Gorilla by the open top primate exhibit, was pretty small with only the tiny indoor area. I think they should hose Indian rhinos in the Malayan tapir enclosure, I assume it was the Sumatran rhino enclosure? It's very impresive
Also, a few pics of RSCC uploaded, will do some more when I'm not tired.
I would not stick in GOH rhinos in with Malayan tapirs: biologically a zoogeographical nightmare and behaviorally inept (these rhinos - opposed to the rather placid Sumatrans - are notoriously aggressive). I would not risk a very successful Malayan tapir captive-breeding programme for the want of visual beautification with Indian rhinos either.
Sumatrans would probably be fine, but so few to get around these days ...! I suppose nowadays PL/JAF would more or less support in situ activities in Indonesia and Malaysia more than trying to re-acquire them (not that they would not have the management capabilities to house and breed them - I think they full well do and probably even better than Cincin.).
On the topic of orangs: PL and Howletts are not exactly major tourist traps and the attendance figures and financial situation after Aspinall Sr. death have been a matter of concern for years ... I think and feel they need several visitor attractions - giraffe, better ele facilities at PL (an eye-sore), orangs and should similarly invest in expanding their bird and reptile/amphibian collections (a non entry sit at the moment and sadly so).
Actually Indian Rhinos are rather placid in captivity. And I didn't mean with the tapirs, I meant maybe move the tapirs and let the rhinos use their enclosure. Seems like the space could be used better, as it's an awfully big area.
Does anyone know when that Hyena arrived?
Does anyone know when that Hyena arrived?
Ashely H im guesing the Small rounded enclosure for Gorillas wasnt the Gorilla Pavillion?
Cause that is huge and has really big indoor areas - It may of been the indoor 'Gym' for the other Bachelor group which used to be the Chimp enclosure but that only holds 2/3 Gorillas.
Regards
Cause that is huge and has really big indoor areas - It may of been the indoor 'Gym' for the other Bachelor group which used to be the Chimp enclosure but that only holds 2/3 Gorillas.
Regards
Oh that must be the bachelor one i didnt see but from what i have heard and seen its seems perfectly okay for the small amount of individuals they house.
The Gorilla Pavillion never housed Chimps altohugh there has been talk of it being better for chimps on zoochat however i think it works brilliantly.
The Gorilla Pavillion never housed Chimps altohugh there has been talk of it being better for chimps on zoochat however i think it works brilliantly.
(
I think and feel they need several visitor attractions - giraffe, better ele facilities at PL (an eye-sore), orangs and should similarly invest in expanding their bird and reptile/amphibian collections (a non entry sit at the moment and sadly so).
Port Lympne do have several Giraffe in their African Experience Safari area nowadays.
Better Elephant facilities may never happen due to cost.
Orangutans would be a fairly pointless addition as they will always be eclipsed by the many Gorilla groups.
Birds, reptiles etc are unlikely ever to appear either- the Collections remain what they are- Big Mammal Collections.
GI Rhinos and Chimp cage.
The tapir enclosures are not very suitable for GI Rhinos- they are on a hillside and just not large enough for these truly MASSIVE animals. GI Rhinos traditionally live on level riverine floodplains in the wild- so in captivity too a large flat area is best for them. The flatland areas at the bottom of Port Lympne, where the Water Buffalo are located would however be absolutely ideal for them, and of sufficiently good size too. However, it seems the opportunity to get some was(strangely) passed up.
Chimp /Gorilla cages;
The old tall round cage near the Red Pandas was built for chimpanzees. Since the chimps left it has held several different male Gorillas in ones and twos. It is connected by a slide door to the adjacent 'pavilion'.
The Original large round 'Gorilla Roundhouse' has never held Chimpanzees, only Gorillas.
The tapir enclosures are not very suitable for GI Rhinos- they are on a hillside and just not large enough for these truly MASSIVE animals. GI Rhinos traditionally live on level riverine floodplains in the wild- so in captivity too a large flat area is best for them. The flatland areas at the bottom of Port Lympne, where the Water Buffalo are located would however be absolutely ideal for them, and of sufficiently good size too. However, it seems the opportunity to get some was(strangely) passed up.
Chimp /Gorilla cages;
The old tall round cage near the Red Pandas was built for chimpanzees. Since the chimps left it has held several different male Gorillas in ones and twos. It is connected by a slide door to the adjacent 'pavilion'.
The Original large round 'Gorilla Roundhouse' has never held Chimpanzees, only Gorillas.
Last edited:
Just completed My personal vision map
here is is
just a few ajjustments
the areas which currently house the prezvalkis wild horse will only include
-The Wild Horse
-Yak
-Bactrian Camel
-Ongar
-Kulan
-Kiang
not the tahkin and blue sheep ect as on the map
and also the roof of the world area will be moved a bit more to the left (towards the Current Asiatic Water Buffalo Enclosure)
Enjoy
here is is
just a few ajjustments
the areas which currently house the prezvalkis wild horse will only include
-The Wild Horse
-Yak
-Bactrian Camel
-Ongar
-Kulan
-Kiang
not the tahkin and blue sheep ect as on the map
and also the roof of the world area will be moved a bit more to the left (towards the Current Asiatic Water Buffalo Enclosure)
Enjoy
