Howletts Wild Animal Park History of Douc Langurs at Howletts?
- Thread starter Bwassa
- Start date
Zootierliste give this information:
1984: 2.2 arrives, 0.1 dies
1986: 1.0 dies
1988: the remaning 1.1 breeds and a male is born (first breding in the UK)
1989: 1.3 arrives from Rome, the 1.0 born in 1988 is exachanged for a male in Köln
1990: all 0.3 from Rome dies (2 males is born at Howletts), current number stands at 4.1
1993: the last 0.1 and 1.0 dies, the last 3.0 is moved to Köln.
1984: 2.2 arrives, 0.1 dies
1986: 1.0 dies
1988: the remaning 1.1 breeds and a male is born (first breding in the UK)
1989: 1.3 arrives from Rome, the 1.0 born in 1988 is exachanged for a male in Köln
1990: all 0.3 from Rome dies (2 males is born at Howletts), current number stands at 4.1
1993: the last 0.1 and 1.0 dies, the last 3.0 is moved to Köln.
wow never knew this species was kept at howletts. Would liked to have seen them. Is a shame they left the collection. I am sure they could have been more successful with the species given their records with other langur species over time, maybe their was a shortage of females?
I remember seeing the Douc langurs at Howletts , absolutely beautiful . They were housed in the range of Primate cages on the lawns near to the Gift Shop and Cafe . This range now houses the Dusky langurs amongst others .
There were some very rare species held in the collection around that time - two species that come to mind are African Golden Cat and Marbled Cat .
There were some very rare species held in the collection around that time - two species that come to mind are African Golden Cat and Marbled Cat .
Although Howletts/Port Lympne husbandry and management techniques are generally excellent, there are some 'blips'- species even they fail with; Asian Elephant, Sumatran rhino and I think Douc Langur falls into that category too. They seem less hardy than other langur species and very difficult to maintain longterm in 'colder climate' European collections, even with the best care and diet as they would have had in Kent. Koln zoo have really struggled to keep their small group going too.
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AFAIK, they eat mostly huge amounts of low-calories leaves, and easily die from eating caloric food like fruit. Cologne has a huge freezer to store leaves for them for winter.
OTOH, they live and breed in some rather shabby exhibits in S Asian zoos. And proboscis monkeys. too.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
When you say Howletts and Port Lympne were unsuccessful with a species, I take it you mean they didn't breed them successfully? Howletts did successfully keep bears, its just that they didn't breed them. They were very successful with chimpanzees, which bred, but chose to stop keeping them.
The Doucs bred very well considering how difficult they are in captivity - had the last two babies been female there is a chance the group might still exist today. Remember until the late 80s Howletts only had experience with Javan Brown langurs when it had the Doucs, the first group of banded and mitred langurs came around 1987, and the dusky langurs around 1995.
If Howletts can import grizzled leaf monkeys, is there any reason why this species might not return to UK collections one day? Especially as SE Asian zoos begin to breed them well.
The Doucs bred very well considering how difficult they are in captivity - had the last two babies been female there is a chance the group might still exist today. Remember until the late 80s Howletts only had experience with Javan Brown langurs when it had the Doucs, the first group of banded and mitred langurs came around 1987, and the dusky langurs around 1995.
If Howletts can import grizzled leaf monkeys, is there any reason why this species might not return to UK collections one day? Especially as SE Asian zoos begin to breed them well.
MARK
Well-Known Member
I was going to say the same about the White rhino- they've definately only ever kept the Blacks.
Not sure if John Aspinall ever had bears either? though I have a vague memory- were there Himalayans in the very early days of his 'private' zoo?
Yes, I don't think there is any species they haven't been able to maintain in good condition long term. But some species proved problematic breeders or they phased them out for other reasons.
Asian Elephants- problems with repeated stillbirths/losses and finally virus.
Sumatran Rhino- both females too old to breed probably.
Chimps- chose to stop keeping them.
Bears?
Gaur- not sure of the story but maybe lost one of a pair? They had a lone one for a long time.
I saw large groups of Doucs in the Bangkok Zoo some years ago- they looked absolutely bursting with health despite their miserable accomodation.
But the ones I've seen in Europe in the past (Koln, Basel, London etc) always looked quiet and slightly listless. I don't remember seeing them at Howletts though.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
They had possibly 1.1 gaur at Howletts during the 80s, I think they lost these without any calves. They were housed in what is now part of the lemur walk-through. The paddock became a chousingha 'overflow' enclosure (seems hard to believe now). I think Port Lympne had at least one, possibly two calves when gaur were introduced in the 1990s. The problem was an adult would die every time numbers were increased and eventually they were replaced by banteng in the top paddock and the surviving animal was held off-exhibit behind the sambar for its remaining years. Gaur are a difficult case, similar to babirusa where the genetic condition of the captive herd is not good and it is therefore hard to attribute lack of success with this species to local husbandry protocols.
I think the 1.1 Himalayan black bears described in John Aspinall's book were kept at Howletts. I've no idea whether they were sent away or died there. I often wonder whether the enclosure with the deep trench around the edge was originally built to house the bears. This species would have been very easy to come by in the 1960s and I don't think there would necessarily have been a genuine effort to establish this species at Howletts.
I think the 1.1 Himalayan black bears described in John Aspinall's book were kept at Howletts. I've no idea whether they were sent away or died there. I often wonder whether the enclosure with the deep trench around the edge was originally built to house the bears. This species would have been very easy to come by in the 1960s and I don't think there would necessarily have been a genuine effort to establish this species at Howletts.
MARK
Well-Known Member
I guess the group at Singapore zoo do well living on a tropical Island in warm conditions rather than in some inside exhibit
I seem to remember the single Gaur I saw at Howletts (a female) had very badly bowed legs as if it had rickets. It was living where the Kudu or Tapirs are now. So again, yes, success even with the best management was probably impossible.
Bears-so he did have them. I wonder if it was in the enclosure you describe. They could easily have died or been sent away as he became more concerned with endangered species.
MARK
Well-Known Member
I think he said in his book the bear enclosure later housed Tigers