Wingham Wildlife Park Wingham Wildlife Park News 2025

There’s been rumours for years about the rhino

I haven’t been wingham in about 18 months now
But do plan to pay a visit some point this year

the addition of the asiatic lions pgmy hippo and rhino will be great for the park and potentially put further strain on howletts footfall
 
Tankyboi said:
There’s been rumours for years about the rhino

I haven’t been wingham in about 18 months now
But do plan to pay a visit some point this year

the addition of the asiatic lions pgmy hippo and rhino will be great for the park and potentially put further strain on howletts footfall
Click to expand...
I can imagine after they get rhinos people just starting to call howllets diet wingham, especially if howletts follow thru with the plan of getting rid of their elephants (which I presume is cancled but if not would make howletts visitors plummet even more than currently) I mean say look at Wingham in 5 years, they could have rhinos, hippos, giraffe, orangutans, tigers, chimps, lions, moon bears, and so many more rarities than howletts, soon wingham is bound to get more foot traffic than howletts, and I think it will be probably in this decade.
 
DCzootripper said:
I can imagine after they get rhinos people just starting to call howllets diet wingham, especially if howletts follow thru with the plan of getting rid of their elephants (which I presume is cancled but if not would make howletts visitors plummet even more than currently) I mean say look at Wingham in 5 years, they could have rhinos, hippos, giraffe, orangutans, tigers, chimps, lions, moon bears, and so many more rarities than howletts, soon wingham is bound to get more foot traffic than howletts, and I think it will be probably in this decade.
Click to expand...
They are already winning Kent’s Best Attraction almost every year, as well as being cheaper than Howletts and PL
 
Typhlonectes said:
They are already winning Kent’s Best Attraction almost every year, as well as being cheaper than Howletts and PL
Click to expand...

personally I do prefer the aspinall parks over Wingham but when I do visit i do notice numbers of foot fall are not what they was say 6/7 years ago where Wingham seem to be busy constantly I’m hearing but especially howletts the biggest issue they have is lack of access to the park for those who don’t drive
 
Apologies in advance for this question which will be popping up on several Kent-based threads:

Does Wingham allow monopods for photography?
 
Copied off Facebook, announced 30mins ago

A Very Special Arrival!
We’re beyond excited to share some incredible news — a baby Bornean orangutan has been born at Wingham Wildlife Park!

This afternoon our beautiful first-time mum Awan gave birth to her precious little one, making history as the first ever Bornean orangutan born here at the park!

Both mum and baby are doing brilliantly so far, and our expert team will continue to keep a close eye on them over the coming days. It’s still early, but the signs are looking really positive.

Bornean orangutans are listed as Critically Endangered, so this tiny arrival brings huge hope for the future of the species. We’re incredibly proud to be playing a part in the vital breeding programme that made this possible.

Awan joined us in 2024 on recommendation from the studbook keeper, and it didn’t take long for sparks to fly between her and Jin — soon after, she was expecting! You can catch up on her full pregnancy journey on our YouTube series, XYZ: Xplore Your Zoo

We’ll be sharing more updates soon (including the baby’s gender when we know it!), but we just couldn’t wait to let you in on this amazing news.

For now, Awan, Jin and her little one will be off display to give them time to bond in peace and privacy — but you can still see our other lovely orangutans, Molly and Belayan, on your visit.

Please join us in celebrating this wonderful new chapter!
 
Having last visited in 2016, I went again this week, and have to say the place is unrecognisable. When I last went, the chimp enclosure was semi-complete but they had a big sign saying they'd been denied the right to keep them due to (essentially) not being a good enough zoo (I'm paraphrasing). To see them with a whole chimp troop plus orangutans, bears, etc. was incredible.

Personal highlights were the Arctic wolves, the lorikeets in the tropical house, the tapir, one of whom was swimming, and I have to say I thought the reptile/nocturnal houses were some of the best I've ever been in.

Absolutely one to watch; having also 'done' Port Lympne, Howletts and Wildwood this week, I can see why Wingham is now tripadvisor top dog in Kent.
 
Typhlonectes said:
Wingham have posted their Conservation Plan and Summary 2025.

There is a very interesting list of animals they have gained from customs seizures, including all 152 of their Gooty Ornamental Tarantulas involved in the EEP. As well as these are many other species of tarantulas, snails, Emperor Scorpions, the Australian geckos Underwoodisaurus milli and Nephrurus laevis, Sambava Tomato Frogs amongst others. They also received 41 “Tropiocolotes” dwarf gecko species. They are on display and are quite the rarity. Hats off to them!

Lemur Leaf Frog and White-clawed Crayfish projects seem to be moving on nicely with stock transfers, releases of CB Crayfish into Bristol rivers and the potential for future Agalychnis juveniles to be released back into their natural habitat in collaboration with Manchester Museum.

Finally, WWP have expressed their desire to work with Socorro Dove, Partula Snail sp and native Glutinous Snails in the future :)

https://winghamwildlifepark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Conservation-Plan-2025.pdf
Click to expand...

Having now visited and seen the tropiocolotes geckos, does anyone have a best guess as to species level? They are quite colourful - T. bisharicus perhaps?
 
 
Just to point out, the Asiatic lions at Chessington are moving to Jimmy's Farm instead of Wingham. Do any Wingham regulars know of what's happening, are they still planning to get them or have these plans been scrapped?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top