Port Lympne's herd is surely the largest in the country. A great sight and probably my highlight of the park now - certainly the best bit of the African Experience.
I think it's excellent, especially at the bottom where the foliage and landscape really do look quite African. The things that let it down are the cheesy commentary (you might be lucky and get a knowledgable driver who will do their own), Asian hoofstock and the dreary 'Discovery Zone' which is poorly executed in my view.
I think it's excellent, especially at the bottom where the foliage and landscape really do look quite African. The things that let it down are the cheesy commentary (you might be lucky and get a knowledgable driver who will do their own), Asian hoofstock and the dreary 'Discovery Zone' which is poorly executed in my view.
The driver seemed to have problems with the pre-recorded commentary when we went, giving only snippets of that with improvised stuff on the mic for the rest; probs better that way.
Oh, and if you think the pre-recorded commentary is cheesy, just wait until you see this years adverts, then again, don't if you want to avoid braindeath!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3SK6iKhy2Q]Howletts TV Ad[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57UUCcebVVo&feature=channel]Port Lympne TV Ad[/ame]
Swamp Deer/Barasingha are now in a mixed herd with the Black Sambar and Nilgai - they were in a paddock alongside the truck road to the African paddock when I was took these photos but were also labelled in one of the ungulate paddocks on the way down to the lynx/ocelot/caracal bit.
Swamp Deer/Barasingha are now in a mixed herd with the Black Sambar and Nilgai - they were in a paddock alongside the truck road to the African paddock when I was took these photos but were also labelled in one of the ungulate paddocks on the way down to the lynx/ocelot/caracal bit.
Do you mean there are still Swamp Deer in the African Experience area( or call it Coombe Farm, if its easier..How many roughly? They used to have a really big herd I believe...
I know there is a small group of Swamp Deer in the main Park where you describe. About 7 two years ago, so now about 14 perhaps? I think these are listed on ISIS as 'branderi'- the central Indian race, but unless they were imported seperately to PL's original stock of these deer (or were they?) I doubt they are of that race. A larger holding of 'duvauceli' isn't mentioned on ISIS.
ISIS lists 11 (as branderi, as you say). That sounds about right for what I saw. Only the one herd as far as could tell - they have two paddocks - the one viewed from the main park and another viewed from the truck (but not a drive-through).
EDIT: Nearly forgot - if I remember right, the roof is the giraffe house.
ISIS lists 11 (as branderi, as you say). That sounds about right for what I saw. Only the one herd as far as could tell - they have two paddocks - the one viewed from the main park and another viewed from the truck (but not a drive-through).
From what you said initially I thought perhaps they still had more at Coombe Farm where they used to have a really big herd that, as I've mentioned before, seemed to just disappear some while ago. Whether the small group they now have is a remnant of these, or a fresh import of genuine 'branderi' animals I do not know- I suspect it is the former but not sure.Their original stock came from somewhere like East Berlin, about the time Port Lympne opened- they were not Howletts' originals like the Axis, Blackbuck, Nilgai and Sambar were. As such they were almost certainly 'duvauceli' as there were(and still are?) no 'branderi' outside India.
If they are branderi then although I have already seen them here, I didn't realise what they are.
2. ISIS lists both PL and Obterre in France as specifically having this subspecies so maybe PL did replace their less endangered 'duvauceli' with the highly endangered 'branderi'? Not such easy information to get I think.
3. Their website says they have '80 Barasingha at the Park' but ISIS says 11! (now 14?). Which is right I wonder. Unfortunately on the website they don't differentiate the races either.
