Howletts Wild Animal Park Howletts Wild Animal Park News 2010

ZooMania said:
Originally I thought in the un-labelled enclosure next to the Heck's Macaques, in the primate enclosures near the Wolves and Leopards. Judging from the guidebook, the only monkey species that fitted were the Guenons so I went with that.
However, a bit of Googling and confirming with Zootierliste makes me think that the monkey was actually a Samango Monkey instead.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that - interesting as we saw Heck's in both sides - wonder if that's moved in the meantime.


One thing I forgot to mention is there is now an also unlabelled pair of Francois' Langurs in the run of cages at the entrance to the kitchen garden.
 
I'm sure I saw some TV footage of the last pair of spot-nosed monkeys being held off exhibit in a cage which, judging by the steelwork, looked to be part of one of the gorilla complexes. I'm assuming there were some service cages constructed for the spot-nosed and samango monkeys when the newer gorilla complex was opened as these were initially housed with the gorillas. The programme mentioned they were very timid, I would be surprised if an elderly pair of spot-nosed guenons were put on display if already settled in an off-exhibit area.
 
johnstoni said:
I'm sure I saw some TV footage of the last pair of spot-nosed monkeys being held off exhibit in a cage which, judging by the steelwork, looked to be part of one of the gorilla complexes. I'm assuming there were some service cages constructed for the spot-nosed and samango monkeys when the newer gorilla complex was opened as these were initially housed with the gorillas. The programme mentioned they were very timid, I would be surprised if an elderly pair of spot-nosed guenons were put on display if already settled in an off-exhibit area.
Click to expand...

100% right :) i went there yesterday and saw the two spot-nosed monkeys, they are in a back stage exhibit behind the gorillas and its quite a nice size for just the pair. they wont be mixed back with the gorillas again and will stay in the back stage exhibit from now on (from what i was told)
thanks
stu
 
Here is evidence that Gorilla/Monkey mixes do not always work longterm.
Howletts have had both Spot nosed and Samango monkeys with Gorillas, both mixes since given up, and Port Lympne had at least one Colobus/Gorilla mix which was a disaster too.
 
They did mix the De Brazza monkeys with the Gorillas, but possibly not anymore though I don't know why they (may) have stopped.

Other zoos in Europe/America do this too.
 
The zoo has taken delivery of 0:2 Francois Langurs from London Zoo. They were later joined by a two year old male from Rotterdam
 
Nisha said:
The zoo has taken delivery of 0:2 Francois Langurs from London Zoo. They were later joined by a two year old male from Rotterdam
Click to expand...

That is absolutely brilliant news. I am glad that Howletts is taken this species on!

It is really vital that more zoos invest in colobine primates and esp. those from S.E. Asia. Over 25-30 species are endangered or even at critical levels. And I do not mean just douc langurs or what ... :(
 
I was there in the summer and there was a pair in the high enclosures by the walled garden, there were no signs but they were definitely Francois langurs
 
I hope they are as successful with them as most of their other Primates. I wish though that they would do something about their longterm pair of non-breeding Golden- Bellied Mangabeys, such as importing a couple more to promote breeding and establish a group.
 
Last edited:
Pertinax said:
I hope they are as successful with them as most of their other Primates. I wish though that they would do something about their longterm pair of non-breeding Golden- Bellied Mangabeys, such as importing a couple more to promote breeding and establish a group.
Click to expand...

As far as I know this species only arrived in 2008 or 2009. The male is very old, so I imagine they are either gaining experience with this species until he passes away, or hoping to get him into condition from the care lavished on him at the parks (in-house organic fruit and veg etc)...
 
johnstoni said:
As far as I know this species only arrived in 2008 or 2009. The male is very old, so I imagine they are either gaining experience with this species until he passes away, or hoping to get him into condition from the care lavished on him at the parks (in-house organic fruit and veg etc)...
Click to expand...

They have been there considerably longer-perhaps nine years as I've seen them on about three visits and I haven't been for the last two/three years. The male seems healthy but just very old- perhaps infertile now. I should think an additional pair or trio with a younger male would be a help to start them breeding.
 
Pertinax said:
Not much to report since Gentle Lemur's visit in August, but here's a few notes;

Persian Leopard newly arrived ( in enclosure adjacent to Iberian wolves)
Click to expand...

Has anyone since seen Persian leopard at Howletts? Was this a temporary holding, or are they now holding both Persian and North Chinese leopards?
 
johnstoni said:
Has anyone since seen Persian leopard at Howletts? Was this a temporary holding, or are they now holding both Persian and North Chinese leopards?
Click to expand...

No mention of Howletts having Persian leopards on Zootierliste or ISIS. Either they have gone now or crossed wires over ssp.
 
Its interesting that the female Francois langurs are mentioned on the Howletts website as 'not breeding females', but intended to make up numbers when more possibly arrive from a zoo in China.
 
Elephant Update:

2 and a half weeks ago female elephant Justa passed away aged just 12 - leaving once again a orphaned elephant calf aged now 5 months - this means keepers have onced again have taken on the duty to bottle feed the calf.

The calf is currently being kept with female african elepant Tammi and her two daughters Jara and Uzuri - in the hope that the calf will bond with these individuals and be accepted by the family unit - so far the keepers have said that it is touch and go if the calf will be accepted/taken on by this family unit

For now the herd will be kept separte leaving the relationship between Tammi's family and the calf to progress...

Also as mentioned before elephant Jums and Port Lympne bull Kruger at some point will be swapped to prevent in-breeding - as now Jums can only be allowed access to certain females in order for him not to breed with his daughters...

Will hopefully be visting again in 2 weeks to see how the situation has progressed. All of the information was discoverd during an elephant talk today at Howletts.

In other news 2 male black and ruffed lemurs are being currently being mixed to the current 5 males in walking with lemurs exhbit, a new female giant anteater has arrived at the park and a baby tapir has been born.
 
Javan Rhino said:
No mention of Howletts having Persian leopards on Zootierliste or ISIS. Either they have gone now or crossed wires over ssp.
Click to expand...

Bear in mind that neither of these would necessarily update immediately when new animals arrived. ISIS updates are only run at regular (or irregular!) intervals, and Zootierliste wouldn't get updated until someone who edits it has the animal's presence confirmed.
 
Tinkywinky said:
Are there how many groups of gorillas in Howletts?
Which are their members?
Click to expand...

Five groups in total;

3 breeding groups; led by males Kifu, Koulliou & Djanghou.
1 breeding group but with no male since the silverback(Kijo) died. There are small young in this group so no new male has been introduced yet.
1 retirement group, contains 3 of their original females(Mouila, Juju & Baby Doll) plus last offspring of Juju and two or three handraised juveniles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top