Howletts Wild Animal Park Clouded Leopards
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taun
Well-Known Member
From what I have seen from the TV series ROAR, They seem to be housed in densely planted enclosures that are quite high to give them a lot of places to hide. From the way the TV series showed them in there enclosures gave me the impression that there floor space was not big.
I have not visited these parks yet thou!
Am sure there are few other members on this forum that could give you a more detailed description of there exhibits.
I have not visited these parks yet thou!
Am sure there are few other members on this forum that could give you a more detailed description of there exhibits.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
The majority of the clouded leopards at Howletts are housed in a complex of tall cages just north of the original first set of tiger paddocks. These used to be way more inaccessible to the public before the new land was acquired. This area has held marbled cats, snow leopards and servals at various points. A path runs adjacent to the taller cages but trees and climbing plants mostly obscure the leopards from the public, leaving one, large, display cage at the front of the complex. There are live shrubs and trees both inside and overhanging the enclosures, and many creeping plants along the wire. The whole area is suitably overgrown.
I think the aspinall's trick has been to work very closely with individual leopards, and as a result generally have had calmer animals whose individual personalities were well-observed by staff before any introduction was attempted. They also seemed for a while to introduce pairs while still young, to create some familiarity before sexual maturity. I speculate here but there are plenty of photos and accounts of keepers 'playing' with individuals of this species, so it could well be that a few animals hand-reared early on went on to produce cubs which were, along with their parents, consequently far less stressed in a captive environment and less likely to kill mates on introduction. Sounds paradoxical but it could be. There are occasions where hand-rearing produces perfect parents and very calm, manageable animals.
I don't really know what the policy is these days regarding keeper interactions with the howletts animals, but the site is not particularly sheltered from the visiting public, at least in terms of proximity and noise, although visually there must be an element of security if the cats are aware that the planted screens/enclosure height means they can watch visitors all day without being noticed.
Port Lympne has often had a few of the Howlett's animals, I assume these to be non-breeding, possibly elderly animals, and they tend to be located in the woods by the older guenon and colobus cages.
I think the aspinall's trick has been to work very closely with individual leopards, and as a result generally have had calmer animals whose individual personalities were well-observed by staff before any introduction was attempted. They also seemed for a while to introduce pairs while still young, to create some familiarity before sexual maturity. I speculate here but there are plenty of photos and accounts of keepers 'playing' with individuals of this species, so it could well be that a few animals hand-reared early on went on to produce cubs which were, along with their parents, consequently far less stressed in a captive environment and less likely to kill mates on introduction. Sounds paradoxical but it could be. There are occasions where hand-rearing produces perfect parents and very calm, manageable animals.
I don't really know what the policy is these days regarding keeper interactions with the howletts animals, but the site is not particularly sheltered from the visiting public, at least in terms of proximity and noise, although visually there must be an element of security if the cats are aware that the planted screens/enclosure height means they can watch visitors all day without being noticed.
Port Lympne has often had a few of the Howlett's animals, I assume these to be non-breeding, possibly elderly animals, and they tend to be located in the woods by the older guenon and colobus cages.
Thanks for that johnstoni (or may I call you Okapia?
)
Interesting observations you make, too, about socialising the cats to human presence to a degree.
I think I read somewhere once that small cats are much less stressed and likely to breed in a zoo/animal park when not in close proximity to lions, tigers or other big cats.
)Interesting observations you make, too, about socialising the cats to human presence to a degree.
I think I read somewhere once that small cats are much less stressed and likely to breed in a zoo/animal park when not in close proximity to lions, tigers or other big cats.
That is bound to be so. Being within sight, smell or sound of bigger cats must be stressful for smaller species, who can't know the bigger species are safely confined, just that they are nearby. This 'rule' is often cited in the case of Cheetahs too- being nervous they will usually flee from Lions in the wild too.
Nor do I- specifically in respect of the more 'dangerous' species that is. I do know that in the case of the Gorillas, the 'going in' with several different groups seemed to stop toward the end of Aspinall senior's time. I could be wrong but I doubt if anyone else has been in with e.g. 'Kijo' since that time- very few of the existing staff have known him very long term. Damian Aspinall was familiarised with the young 'Kifu'(son of Kijo) and his group and continued this relationship even after 'Kifu' was a silverback- but I don't know if he still does this. If so it may be the only interaction of this type nowadays.
I'd be interested too to know what their accepted policy is nowadays regarding keeper interactions with the Gorillas, tigers etc.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
The point about proximity to other cats has certainly been hypothesised for clouded leopards in terms of proximity to tigers. However, tiger enclosures flank the south and east sides of the clouded leopard area at Howletts, the other side of the visitor path. Granted, these are large compounds with the tigers rarely choosing to spend large amounts of time at the boundaries closest to the clouded leopard complex, but there is certainly a strong audible, olfactory and visual presence nearby. Again, I think it is a combination of the natural barriers of height and seclusion providing the leopards with the ability to confidently avoid the tigers should the enclosure boundaries not exist. Also, if the proximity of tigers or other large cats constitutes a threat, and cortisol levels in droppings etc reflect this, then the addition of keeper activity without bonded relationships could be suggested to only increase the stress levels in the cats. Making those keeper intrusions one of routine, familiarity and even to a degree a sense of security might just be a factor in calm, secure leopards.
I was under the impression Damien Aspinall still went in with some of the Gorillas, he took his children in with them at some point, it would be a shame if this practice was discontinued.
I was under the impression Damien Aspinall still went in with some of the Gorillas, he took his children in with them at some point, it would be a shame if this practice was discontinued.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@johnstoni: The scenary what You describe in terms of Clouded Leopards, including hand-rearing, has also been conducted by several species & institutions, like cheetahs at private breeders or most of the Gerenuks at American zoos. Especially in case of the latter, though still rather flighty creatures (or as I once heard them described: "The blond dumb American Cheerleaders of the Ungulate World "...), this seems to have created less stressed animals.
"...), this seems to have created less stressed animals.I won't start a seperate thread just for this one point... You may be right, I know at one time they advertised seeing him 'in' with Gorillas. I'm pretty sure nowadays this would be restricted(with adult gorillas anyway) to 'Kifu's group as I believe this is the only silverback he is that familiar with...
I've never seen any sign of people in with Gorillas there apart from old Aspinall once on a Sunday.- I think it used to happen mainly on Sundays when they can present a bigger spectacle with large crowds in attendance. To my knowledge the Gorillas there have never caused any real accidents (unlike the Tigers and Elephants) The form was that Aspinall & one senior keeper would enter the enclosure, with a couple of other keepers watching from outside 'in case of emergency'
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
It would be interesting to possibly start a thread on these practices. I thought some time ago that it was strange how species such as Fennec foxes consistently fail to breed in most zoological settings yet breeders across the US keep them and breed them as if domestic dogs in their own homes. Similar situations occur with tamanduas.
For all the marketing and careful exhibit design, I would be interested to see/ locate studies looking at longevity/health/breeding data alongside levels of keeper-animal bonds in terms of familiarity or contact. For many years, Howletts and Port Lympne expressed in their brochures that their keepers worked with the same species for many years, with as little change as possible. In many species, the animal you get having entered its enclosure and spent time with it being completely used to your presence and interaction is a very different animal from one left to be 'wild' inside a relatively small space.
For all the marketing and careful exhibit design, I would be interested to see/ locate studies looking at longevity/health/breeding data alongside levels of keeper-animal bonds in terms of familiarity or contact. For many years, Howletts and Port Lympne expressed in their brochures that their keepers worked with the same species for many years, with as little change as possible. In many species, the animal you get having entered its enclosure and spent time with it being completely used to your presence and interaction is a very different animal from one left to be 'wild' inside a relatively small space.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I don't think the majority of clouded leopard enclosures have sufficient hiding places which are high off the ground and secluded. In the case of Howletts, this appears to negate the proximity to several pairs of tigers. I have never seen another collection where their leopards have anything like the cover and height at Howletts. Even at Port Lympne, the leopards pace much more and are often just on the ground. The roof of the Howlett's cages are a network of branches and platforms flanked by live trees around the enclosure perimeter.
I doubt it can be considered as a rule. The Prague pair of clouded leopards (both from Howletts, born in 2004) are having now their second litter (twins of the first one was succesfully bred, now in Paris nad Wuppertal) and they inhabit the feline pavilon with tigers, lions, ... During my last visit there I even noticed there can be even direct eye contact between them and sumatran tigers.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@docend24: Depends on the species and individuals. Cheetahs, though no "small cats" do seem to do better (including in terms of breeding) in captivity if no larger predators are around.
Which has it's own exceptions, where Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem is a prolific breeder of this species, and their animals are right next to the lion pride...
I agree completely. On cheetahs - they tend to losing interest in mating when they together too long - that's another factor that can influenced their breeding problems too. Well, back to clouded leopards
Not sure about hand-reared animals these days, but the rule of thumb with Howletts cloudies is to pair an experienced/older female with a young male (pers com with the head carnivore keeper). It appears that the female is able to dominate the male and thus negate the effect of those long canines during mating. This hasn't just happened with certain individuals, but throughout the breeding program. It may well be an 'old keepers tale' that has become routine, but then there may be some common sense that we have yet to see in wild animals. Their breeding success speaks for itself; more offspring each year than everybody else combined.