I suspect he does still go in with Kifu's group sometimes, but not during visiting hours maybe. I don't think any of the staff there nowadays have been there throughout Kifu's life so they don't know him so well- they need that essential longterm respect/familiarity for this to work.
I don't think Howletts have ever had an 'incident' with a Gorilla. I know one female Kaja bit John Aspinall but it was hardly a serious attack. But they knew which grups they could go in with safely. At Basel a long time ago the keeper used to go in with their silverback 'Stephi' and he was gentle too.
On the other hand there have been various serious incidents at other Zoos where Gorillas(usually males) not used to to the Howletts form of contact have escaped into service areas and mauled keepers very badly. There was one in America quite recently- the male Gorilla held a keeper 'hostage' in the service area and kept returning to attack her whenever she moved, before he could be lured back in. Fortunately she recovered. Most female gorillas are pretty inoffensive, even in that sort of situation. Often they can be 'walked' back into their cage.
I think some respect is called for, it is the late Mr Aspinall, not old Aspinall,some respect for the deceased please.Mr Aspinall was a very good person to work for,and lets be honest how many people would put the amount of there own money into conservation like the late Mr Aspinall did.I know this is going off the subject but just think respect fot the dead is called for.
I meant no disrespect. I said 'old' to differentiate from the current 'young' Mr Aspinall, that's all. Sorry if you found that offensive, it wasn't meant that way. I've altered the reference.
I dont think there have been any incidents with the Gorillas at Howletts but one thing i do remember is when Bustah the chimpanzee a former resident attacked a young child quite visciously. It was very surreal for me because i heard via a friend who lives in the United kingdom , a few months before Bustah attacked the child , i had been watching him in his enclosure at Lympne and although he appeared quite boistrous and active i would never have imagined such an unpredictable temprament in this animal. But i think that Chimpanzees have a far more violent and carnivorous temprament and mentality then the gentle Gorillas ,would that be wrong to say? I heard Mr Aspinall paid a great sum as compensation to the unfortunate child, i dont think the blame lies with anyone , but perhaps the parents might have been more vigilant with the child. As i saw when i visited the Aspinall parks the fencing is high and foolproof and there are many many warning signs on even the most placid species of antelope and deer exhibited , not to cross the safety barrier.
Indeed he does look very menacing but im sure that it belies a gentle nature , i dont know if he was one of the gorillas i saw when i was at Howletts it was a longtime ago so he might well have been one of the ones i saw , nevertheless im going to visit the Aspinall parks in the near future and see the wonderful animals again
