Review of Howletts (26/5/09) and Port Lymnpe (27/6/09)

[Zambar]

Back from my two day trip to these fantastic parks, and I'm overwhelmed by how good they were. To start with, Howletts:

The weather was fine, slightly cloudy to start but becoming a pleasent, sunny day. The dholes were active though I did not see the hunting dogs on the two occasions I visted their enclosure. It was fantastic watching the gorillas of the kitchen gardens, in particular a female who had a recent baby around her waist. A youngster about toddler age wanted some attention too, so his mother played with him whilst keeping hold of her other baby, tickling him and spinning him about to which he seemed estatic about. If anyone could identify these three, it would be appreciated. The honey badger didn't show unfortunately, and watching the bison stampede towards their food was impressive.
I was lucky on the animal front otherwise, managing to see the Iberian Wolves, North Chinese Leopard, Ocelot, Snow Leopard, Pallas Cat, Fishing Cat, Desert Cat, Lynx and Ocelot. The most active had to be the clouded leopards: It was in an 'off-show' exhibit that was still easilly visible from the path looking out on the elephant paddock, and four of them were interacting and leaping around their exhibit. This was the first time I'd seen these beautiful cats, and they were easilly one of my favourite animals on the day.
Of course, I was most looking forward to seeing my favourite animal, the elephants, and the 14-strong herd was not a dissapointment. They were staying in the sand paddock and watching them interact, from huge bull Jums to the tiniest six-month old calf was a real treat. The geladas had the outdoor enclosure to themselves, and the lemurs were coming very close in the walk-through.

I'll post the PL review a bit later on. Any questions about my visits are welcome.

 

[PrimateKid]

Great review dalek! Your lucky to see the Clouded Leopards, as whenever i go they never seem to come out!
Glad you enjoyed it

 

[Cat-Man]

when i went Jim vassy himself (lucky me!!!!(but is really nice not like the say him on roar!)) sowed me were the cloudies were and the head primate kepper simon (forgot his sir name) talked to me about the clouded and snow leopards. the cubs were out right at the end of my visit (at the main on show cage) and i also saw the s tigers getting fed (jim vassy again)

PLZ may I post my review when I go this June?

Hope you had a great time, any photos of the n Chinese Leopard enclosure?

 

[James27]

Good review. That's the enclosure I saw the cloudies in, it's on the left as you look at the elephants? I think 3 of them were cubs (or kittens? I think it's cubs as technically they're big cats...), they were really active until they saw me watching, then they scarpered!

 

[Zambar]

catman: I saw Mr Vasey myself breifly on the day, but didn't get nowhere near as lucky as you!

ashley-h: Yep, that's the one. There were a couple we could tell were young, but thankfully they didn't run for cover when they saw us!

 

[tetrapod]

Jim is a top bloke. Very much in the vein of your classic 'old-style' keeper (and consequently good to chat to), who has just got the knack for getting the best out of breeding Pallas cats, cloudies, dholes and tigers (amongst others).

 

[redpanda]

catman: I saw Mr Vasey myself breifly on the day, but didn't get nowhere near as lucky as you!

Same, also by the Clouded Leopard enclosure!

Incidentally MD, whereabouts in the enclosure were the Iberian Wolves, were they lying against the back fence again?

 

[Zambar]

One breifly came out of the den before going back in again, and one was at the back having a scratch.

 

[JamesB]

Thanks for the review, i will be posting my Port Lympne review soon, i was there yesterday! Hope you had a good time at both zoos.

 

[Zambar]

Sorry the PL review came late, but it's still fresh in my mind!

OK, for my first visit, the weather decided to be cruel. The moment we stepped out of the shop a heavy downpour came down, and we took refuge under an umbrella table outside the restaraunt. Thankfully this only lasted about five minutes and would be the worst of the weather, but it was constant showers throughout the day that got lighter as time went on, but still made it pretty miserable.
Anyhoo, we boarded the 11am African Experience, which with the wind and showers kinda killed the 'African' in the 'Experience', but I suppose it worked if you imagined it was rainy season. Didn't see the dholes, and when we passed the three elephants I was saddened to see one of the cows showing sterophyptic behaviour, walking around in a constant circle. Krueger was the only one in the paddock, and was reaching for grass on the other side of the fence. I have to admit, after seeing the Howletts herd yesterday, these elephants seemed bleak solitary and seperated, and I do hope they expand the number soon.
Anyway, we went through the Experience and despite the battering wind blowing rain in our faces it was great tp see all the species', though I didn't see as many wildebeest as I expected. Best were the giraffes, that literally appeared out of nowhere as the truck pulled right past. A hot chocolate and walk round the Discovery Zone warmed us up very refeshingly at the halfway stop.
Once our safari was over, we embarked towards Palace of the Apes, passing other fantastic animals like the bongo and drills on the way. The group was nestling in the sheltered bit of the huge cage, and we saw them literally skate inside as keepers had put down boxes of food made by kids in the enrichment workshop. It was fascinating watching them tear in, and I was very impressed.
Heading to the restaraunt for lunch, we also went inside the manor. The murals were amazing, though the ones in another room certainly showed through John Aspinall's misanthropic side, with graphic murals of tigers and elephants brutally killing hunters who injured them.
After this we headed back into the shower, getting more mild. We walked past several rhino paddocks including the baboons, who were most interesting but a bit freightning admittedly. After one male who was lying with his harem noticed he was showing his bits turned away like an embarrassed person, they obviously percieved our laughing as a threat display given we were showing teeth.
As we walked past a couple of rhinos, they came up to us and started that cute squeak they do despite their size. Unfortunately all the bachelor gorillas were inside, but we did see anoa straight after, and as we went down by the fantastic tapir enclosure we came upon the pair up by the fence enjoying lunch.
Embarking towards the small cats, we managed to see the Ocelots, Desert Cats and Fishing Cats. We also got superb views of the lionesses, coming straight up to the windows, as well as Calcuttah and Delhi the Bengal Tigers who were watching the lions with great interest. And as you may have seen in my photos, I saw a brown hyena. It came up to the fence to show himself in all his glory for a minute or so, before sleeking back up into the shade of the trees. Yet as we walked back up the hill, you could see it watching us, following our every move... Oh, and I didn't see the hunting dogs. Again.
Going back past more tapirs, we took the monkey walk. We managed to see the sifakas, and the diana monkeys were paticuarly interesting, reaching out to grab nettles, and then rubbing them on the wood before consumption to mush out the stings. They even chased each other round the enclosure to get some.
We returned to Palace of the Apes, and they were getting ready for bed. But most fascinating was the eerie, mournful calls of the gorillas echoing through the building. That'll stay with me for a while.
Last of all we headed for the carnivores near the entrance, managing to see the siberian tigers and the wolves. But no hunting dogs, bringing the number of them I'd seen between the two parks to zero.

As before, any questions welcome.

 

[Cat-Man]

there are no hunting dogs up the carnivor house anyomore

 

[Zambar]

There was still an exhbit sign. Point is I didn't see any hunting dogs at either Howletts or Port Lymnpe.

 

[Mike11]

When i went to Howletts on Thursday i had a quick look at the African Wild Dogs and they where all sleeping in the shade, with the remains of the last meal right in the middle of the enclosure on show to everyone!

 

[JamesB]

Anyhoo, we boarded the 11am African Experience, which with the wind and showers kinda killed the 'African' in the 'Experience', but I suppose it worked if you imagined it was rainy season. Didn't see the dholes, and when we passed the three elephants I was saddened to see one of the cows showing sterophyptic behaviour, walking around in a constant circle. Krueger was the only one in the paddock, and was reaching for grass on the other side of the fence. I have to admit, after seeing the Howletts herd yesterday, these elephants seemed bleak solitary and seperated, and I do hope they expand the number soon.

According to the brochure the park plans to start a breeding facility soon. I agree with you that they did seem very lonely but i did think the enclosures were of quite good quality.

Going back past more tapirs, we took the monkey walk. We managed to see the sifakas, and the diana monkeys were paticuarly interesting, reaching out to grab nettles, and then rubbing them on the wood before consumption to mush out the stings. They even chased each other round the enclosure to get some.

Did you see just the male sifaka or was the female outside in her separate area too?

There was still an exhbit sign. Point is I didn't see any hunting dogs at either Howletts or Port Lymnpe.

I was lucky enough to see one on the African experience but there paddock is very heavily planted and the one i saw was actually in the separate enclosure joined onto the main one, i assume they are connected?

 

[Zambar]

We saw two sifakas, so I presume it was two males. They were indoors apart from one breif outdoor appearence.

I assume so.

 

[JamesB]

Well a young lad who was near by told me that the other was a newly arrived female, still waiting for someone to confirm this!

 

[zoogiraffe]

Well a young lad who was near by told me that the other was a newly arrived female, still waiting for someone to confirm this!

They did have a female but she died shortly after arriving from Paris Zoo,which left them with 2 Males at least this was the case in April when i visited i`m not aware of any collection having a female spare so i would say its 2 males,and the lad was quoting what had been on ROAR which is now out of date information!

 

[JamesB]

They did have a female but she died shortly after arriving from Paris Zoo,which left them with 2 Males at least this was the case in April when i visited i`m not aware of any collection having a female spare so i would say its 2 males,and the lad was quoting what had been on ROAR which is now out of date information!

Oh right, there was only one name plaque up so i was a bit confused. Will they be mixing the two males or is there too much risk?

 

[zoogiraffe]

Oh right, there was only one name plaque up so i was a bit confused. Will they be mixing the two males or is there too much risk?

Don`t know i posted all i know about it in my post,sorry i cannot help any more than that.

 

[AliceP]

Didn't see the dholes, and when we passed the three elephants I was saddened to see one of the cows showing sterophyptic behaviour, walking around in a constant circle. Krueger was the only one in the paddock, and was reaching for grass on the other side of the fence.

when i went in April she was pacing then

Heading to the restaraunt for lunch, we also went inside the manor. The murals were amazing, though the ones in another room certainly showed through John Aspinall's misanthropic side, with graphic murals of tigers and elephants brutally killing hunters who injured them.

did you see the david shepherd painting in one of the doorways. i cant remember which one it is as i havent been in the mansion for a few years

And as you may have seen in my photos, I saw a brown hyena. It came up to the fence to show himself in all his glory for a minute or so, before sleeking back up into the shade of the trees. Yet as we walked back up the hill, you could see it watching us, following our every move... Oh, and I didn't see the hunting dogs. Again.

again when i went in april the hyenas were nearing the end of their quarantine and so didnt get to see them. did you see the young lioness on her own?? i cant remember what she is called