Howletts Wild Animal Park Howletts news 2007-2008

Howletts has plenty of space really. The issue as someone points out is that you need a clump of trees and then some distance between these and any others, rather than continuous woodland that would allow primates to escape.

The Cape buffalo were sent to a private reserve in South Africa, about the same time as they sent their Brown and Striped Hyenas to SA too.
 
johnstoni said:
Howletts has plenty of space really. The issue as someone points out is that you need a clump of trees and then some distance between these and any others, rather than continuous woodland that would allow primates to escape.

The Cape buffalo were sent to a private reserve in South Africa, about the same time as they sent their Brown and Striped Hyenas to SA too.
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It may not have been a private reserve, but a private zoo - Tygerburg Zoo. I met the owner over a decade ago. John Spence (nice chap), was close friends with Durrell and Aspinall. I believe he was the source of a number of South African species at Howletts in the past.
 
johnstoni said:
I don't think they gave that impression in 'help' at the time, but it wouldn't surprise me.
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I'm sure to Howlett's/PL the phrase 'private reserve'(where possible) sounds more in keeping with their aims than 'zoo' when talking about exporting their animals.
 
Pertinax said:
I'm sure to Howlett's/PL the phrase 'private reserve'(where possible) sounds more in keeping with their aims than 'zoo' when talking about exporting their animals.
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That sounds about right with some of there claims
 
Howletts & Port Lympne update.

Not much to report since Gentle Lemur's visit in August, but here's a few notes;

Howletts;

Heck's Macaque pair now moved to enclosure in woodland walk behind Mansion.
Persian Leopard newly arrived ( in enclosure adjacent to Iberian wolves) Iberian wolves VERY shy- invisible(!)
2 baby Siberian tigers on show.
RR Hogs have another 2 partly grown babies.
Large open air Colobus/Gelada baboon enclosure near entrance is enormous and nicely planted but deciduous trees in centre already badly damaged by the Colobus.
Very impressed by 'Djangou' the youngest Gorilla group leader- a superb young silverback( aged 15) in peak condition.

Port Lympne;

New cheetah arrived(near Maned Wolves)
Black rhino 'Quinto' from Chester having a few problems settling in(see 'Black Rhinos in Europe' thread for details)
12 'Barbary' Lions kept in four different combinations(one breeding pair)
Only two female elephants seen, plus the bull 'Kruger'
RR Hogs. Old male of non-breeding pair has died and been replaced with young boar bred from the Howletts pair- perhaps they will breed at PL now as this is exactly same situation as Belfast had with theirs.
Guinea Baboons- the ones in the entrance cage are 3 new males to be added to the existing group. (The group are breeding now).
Open monkey enclosure- trees remain undamaged despite large Colobus group but problems with them escaping- one youngster was out during my visit.
Tractor/Trailer buses to give free lifts round the steep hilly park have been dispensed with- you must do the 'African Experience' tour (I didn't) to ride in a vehicle at all now. The rest of it,the whole western side you have to walk around now! (good for Uk's obese population..)

Any questions I can try and answer...:)
 
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MARK said:
Thanks for the update do you have you any pics of the young Silverback Djangou ?
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On my film camera only... he is extremely impressive but does not look at all like his father Djala at Port Lympne- he must take more after his mother 'Sangha' in the 'Kifu' group.
 
are you shore they have persian leopard and cheetah??????????????????????????????????
if so were did they come from?
 
Cat-Man said:
are you shore they have persian leopard and cheetah??????????????????????????????????
if so were did they come from?
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I saw the Cheetah. I saw the sign on the enclosure for the leopard. Both arrived very recently. I don't know the sources.
 
I thought Howletts/Port Lympne were only planning to breed from the Sumatran pair and Tug and his female. When i went (which was a few years ago) I'm sure Malchek was being kept on his own because they had no space left to house anymore tigers.
 
Pertinax said:
On my film camera only... he is extremely impressive but does not look at all like his father Djala at Port Lympne- he must take more after his mother 'Sangha' in the 'Kifu' group.
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Hey Pertinax, I agree with you that Djangou is very impressive but I think he is the image (apart from the eye!) of his father Djala! ;)Same impressive frame and fabulous crown. Do you remember all of that motley crew when they were all in with each other many years ago? I am trying to find a very old Howletts guide with an early photos of the group with Kouillou, Djala, Sounda and Sangha when they were in the end enclosure that now houses Bitanu's group. If anyone has one would love to see the early shots.

Cheers
 
GorillaFollower said:
but I think he is the image (apart from the eye!) of his father Djala!
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Sorry but I can't see it- he's dark like Djala in colour but not quite as black overall or on the head- and his face and head shape are quite different. I think facially he takes more after the mother 'Sangha'.

Similarly, Kijo (who is still my favourite Howletts gorilla of all) definately facially resembles his mother (Juju) rather than father 'Kisoro'(who was another beauty) & 'Kifu' looks like 'Founa' (mother) rather than Kijo(father)

Do you know if there are any plans to remove the two large sons in Djala's group yet?
 
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