Really Tim?
Regardless of their faults and wealth I would say that the Aspinall family has given far more % wise of their personal assets than 99.9% of the population. So I think it's very harsh to criticise them on that level Tim.
Howletts Wild Animal Park Howletts Wild Animal Park News 2015
- Thread starter Jakub
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Really Tim?
Regardless of their faults and wealth I would say that the Aspinall family has given far more % wise of their personal assets than 99.9% of the population. So I think it's very harsh to criticise them on that level Tim.
A quick look at Wikipedia reveals Damien to have an estimated personal wealth of £200 million,granted, this may well not be in liquid cash,and granted, there are many wealthy folks who give nothing at all to zoology, but it seems to me that money is now raised from the Foundation and people knocking themselves out for it rather than from Aspers himself.I really cant imagine that a Durrell or Peter Scott or ,indeed myself come to that,would sit on the kind of money he has without committing much,much,more of it to the cause.No new developments of any note have really happened at Howletts since John Aspinalls death and Lympne has been turned upside down in an attempt to make it pay its way.
Then there was all that anti-zoo business in the Sunday Times a couple of years ago criticizing zoos in general"rows of animals in wretched cages" and the ZSL in particular(not many Partula Snails at Howletts are there? Amphibian Ark?Forget it!).This of course whilst taking and sending animals to other zoos...some of which(all?) have rows of cages !His father, although strange to the point of obnoxious(and I met him a couple of times),was at least the real deal..as you can tell I am not convinced by the son at all.
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A feeling shared by me on DA and the keepers I have spoken to on past visits-particularly at Lympne. More an attitude of "their my animals, I'll do what I want with them." I remember a Howletts keeper telling me once of an impromptu visit by DA and a small group of "chums" to the gorillas, feeding them cheese and chocolate. The gastric problems and resultant mess created took them all day to rectify.
I too am surprised how little Howletts has changed over the years, and I do worry for the future of Lympne-particularly when you consider the complete disregard DA has for the place.
Lemurs
Well-Known Member
I've been very bored at work today so have been browsing charity finances.I do find it puzzling that given all that wealth, they ask for donations of enrichment items etc for the animals as if they can't afford to buy the stuff, while supporters are prepared to knock themselves out with fundraising events too.
Financial history
So, in 5 years the Aspinall Foundation spent roughly £10.5m more than it made. That is before 2014's gorilla transfer to Gabon. That extra £10.5m only came from one place.
I suspect that the appeals for enrichment toys etc, are a way of engaging the public and helping the parks run self-sufficiently.
The extra £10.5m does not necessarily come from Aspinall's personal wealth, some could have come from investments held by the charity (as was the case in the most recent accounts) or the depletion of cash or other assets held -I'm not judging either way, just pointing out that the "facts" may not be straightforward or easily discernible.
I fully agree with your point that the appeals are a good way of engaging the public.
Yes, I rather presumed that was the case, rather than they couldn't actually afford to provide them without such assistance if need be.
Well,in truth, the whole tangle of companies involved in and around Damien Aspinall is more complicated than it at first appears. BUT,if,as seems likely from the appliance of Gift Aid,the Foundation runs some of the parks operations then a hefty contribution WILL be needed because Howletts and Lympne have always under-performed visitor-wise.Its almost a tradition.Even,if this isn't the case(and I am not about to examine sets of accounts) then the amounts of money described by Lemurs are as nothing compared with the contributions of all those other zoos with "wretched cages"(as Damien described them)...I still think Aspinall jnr, and the family "firm" so prevalent amongst the myriad of companies surrounding him, could do much more.And that is not to ignore the contribution they DO make.. or those well-meaning private individuals who do support them.
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
A couple of snippets from my visit today.
Three female gorillas are in residence in the Old Gorillas enclosure that was previously unused. They are Tebe from Port Lympne, unknown female from Rotterdam and unknown female from Hannover. In the gorilla talk it was stated that they are still looking for a male to join them, not sure if this means that reports on here that it was to be one of Paignton's (Matadi?) were premature, or if they're just keeping their cards close to their chest.
Lots of Dhole cubs in the enclosure next to the Wild Dogs. I didn't get an exact count but maybe eightish, so probably two litters.
Lastly, can anyone tell me what this is? Very mysterious.
http://www.zoochat.com/54/mysterious-door-413872/
Three female gorillas are in residence in the Old Gorillas enclosure that was previously unused. They are Tebe from Port Lympne, unknown female from Rotterdam and unknown female from Hannover. In the gorilla talk it was stated that they are still looking for a male to join them, not sure if this means that reports on here that it was to be one of Paignton's (Matadi?) were premature, or if they're just keeping their cards close to their chest.
Lots of Dhole cubs in the enclosure next to the Wild Dogs. I didn't get an exact count but maybe eightish, so probably two litters.
Lastly, can anyone tell me what this is? Very mysterious.
http://www.zoochat.com/54/mysterious-door-413872/
Do you mean one of the large 'Gorillariums'?( not the very oldest cages?)
I'd be very surprised if it was not Matadi as he's been 'programmed' to go there from Paignton since earlier this year (they actually announced it publicly in the end when he had his health checks) and is currently expected to leave in July. I suspect 'looking for a male' is just zoospeak, though of course there just could be some truth in it. However Matadi is genetically suitable and he also makes a direct exchange with male Oumbi who went from Port Lympne to Twycross. I think a fourth female will be added to this new group also, though perhaps not yet.
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FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
The three females currently have access to the Gorillarium (great word by the way) that isn't Djanghou's, and half the oldest cages. The two old ladies have the other half.
That makes sense; they can be flexible in how they house the individuals next to each other and then eventually they can mix them in the large enclosure.
Alan
That is how John Aspinall named his design. It is pretty apt I think.
Have there been any changes to this enclosure do you think, or to the quite small brick-built indoor area( it used to house the Chimps) which is at the back of it?
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
Apparently they are already mixed and getting along well. I only saw two together but all the outdoor areas of the oldest house were interlinked (except for one partition separating the new females from the old ladies), and they are using the bridge to the gorillarium. I was told the two from the continent are still quite unsure about the straw but Mali seemed quite happy on it. I don't think I saw Thirza.
This was only my second visit to Howletts, and the previous one was in May, so the fact I didn't notice anything isn't significant. The indoor house at the back didn't look in use though.
Lemurs
Well-Known Member
At the Hunting Dogs near the entrance, there's now a sign saying 'area empty for introduction of European Wolves'. There's also a small (possibly temporary) enclosure by the pavilion.
I'm guessing the Hunting Dogs are now at Port Lympne. I don't know much European Wolves and the IUCN's site says they're of 'least concern'. I think it was Canadian Timber Wolves that Port Lypmne used to have.
I'm guessing the Hunting Dogs are now at Port Lympne. I don't know much European Wolves and the IUCN's site says they're of 'least concern'. I think it was Canadian Timber Wolves that Port Lypmne used to have.
Lemurs
Well-Known Member
Those two wolves were rejected by their mums in France and the Netherlands and so brought over to live together.
The last remaining lynx has passed away, at the age of 22 of natural from natural causes. There's a sign up saying that they're renovating the area for 2016.
Two baby dusky langurs are in the enclosure by the elephants. There's also been a baby gibbon by the lions for about 2.5 months, and there's a 9 week old crowned lemur in the walk-through (a boy named Kito).
The last remaining lynx has passed away, at the age of 22 of natural from natural causes. There's a sign up saying that they're renovating the area for 2016.
Two baby dusky langurs are in the enclosure by the elephants. There's also been a baby gibbon by the lions for about 2.5 months, and there's a 9 week old crowned lemur in the walk-through (a boy named Kito).
Does anyone know if Ebeki's gorilla group is finally together?
ageruff
Active Member
Jums
Howletts have tweeted earlier to say:
We're saying goodbye to Jums, our African bull elephant, tomorrow! He's moving to a new home as part of an international breeding programme.
I know this has been on the cards for sometime and may be for the best but still seems sad news to me (as I will miss seeing the big guy). Has anyone heard any more details?
EDIT to answer my own question a little more detail on Facebook:
Jums is moving to a new home in Spain as part of an international breeding programme.
We'll be welcoming a new bull to Howletts soon!
Howletts have tweeted earlier to say:
We're saying goodbye to Jums, our African bull elephant, tomorrow! He's moving to a new home as part of an international breeding programme.
I know this has been on the cards for sometime and may be for the best but still seems sad news to me (as I will miss seeing the big guy). Has anyone heard any more details?
EDIT to answer my own question a little more detail on Facebook:
Jums is moving to a new home in Spain as part of an international breeding programme.
We'll be welcoming a new bull to Howletts soon!
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How many of Jums' daughters are in their current herd?