Howletts Wild Animal Park Howletts Wild Animal Park News 2012

The loss that I mentioned being was that of Dave Magner and Jim Vassie.

Agreeably no one is immortal, but it is always going to be a problem, when individuals create zoos and then when they die, it is left to for example the Aspinall Foundation. And for that reason things and ideas will change with no one being made of exactly the same stuff.

I think this is just change in the times, and that the Aspinall Parks are going to be different as to how they were originally, in my eyes a shame, but places do have to change with the times to keep funds going in. Now sacking yes, does save money, but I think that is not the point here!!!

With the loss of the two head of sections, definitely proves a certain breakdown of something somewhere.

And also the money left for the parks must be going into the conservation programmes too?

That cannot be cheap.
 
I am visiting for the first time next week, we did want to go to both zoos but unfortunately its to pricey for a one off visit. Although great value if you are local. We are hopefully planning to go to Howletts twice in our few days in Kent.

Is there enough for 2 visits? Is it mostly paths or will the recent deluge of rain make it a welly job :D

I think it is the first time, a good few years ago (30) I visited one of the zoos I am sure it was Port Lyme as we were staying at Folkstone and it was more a 'walking safari' type zoo? I can remember a round chimp cage? (or not chimp even with my terrible memory) whatever ape or monkey it was they kept putting there hands through the bars, they seemed very close,and I can remember keeping well away!

On hindsight why did I not keep a diary or take as many photos as I do now!! So frustrating.
 
karenZOO said:
Is there enough for 2 visits? Is it mostly paths or will the recent deluge of rain make it a welly job :D

I can remember a round chimp cage? (or not chimp even with my terrible memory) whatever ape or monkey it was they kept putting there hands through the bars, they seemed very close,and I can remember keeping well away!
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I'm sure you will enjoy Howletts- enough to make you go back for a second visit. More attractive(IMO) and better laid out than Port Lympne- much smaller but with a good range of species. Its mostly good paths too so not particularly bad if wet.

Your memory is correct about the circular cage at Port Lympne- it did originally hold Chimpanzees. You mention the proximity of them- I think this may have been the cage where an unfortunate child(boy) was badly maimed by a Chimp after he climbed through the barrier and went up to the cage.
 
karenZOO said:
I am visiting for the first time next week, we did want to go to both zoos but unfortunately its to pricey for a one off visit. Although great value if you are local. We are hopefully planning to go to Howletts twice in our few days in Kent.
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I am not sure if they are still running the promotion, but a visit to one zoo used to allow you a discount at the other - might be worth checking ;)

Alan
 
Is there a union for zoo keepers in the UK? (ABWAK isn't a union).

It seems that there should be, or keepers need to join one of the big unions anyway. You legally have a right to be represented at a grievance or disciplinary even if your employer doesn't formally recognise the union you are with.

I think its even more important that groundspeople and keepers on large, private estates such as Howletts where there is tied accommodation have some protections. Its unbelievable that a senior keeper can be fired and, together with their family, be made homeless overnight.

People who are even remotely aware of the importance of being unionised don't often realise you can't join reactively, you have to already be a member when any trouble starts. I hope these keepers can afford the legal costs of fighting this.
 
Another simple and effective primate exhibit at the aspinal parks. For all their faults, I do think they get it right each time with new primate enclosures.

Personally, they way they are going, they could well replace twycross as the world primate centre (albeit self-proclaimed) in the next few years - the no. of primate species being kept at port lym/howletts has increased steadily over the last couple of years generally. Do they have any samamgo/lesser spot-nosed guenons left? Acquiring new quenon specimens seems to be a nationwide problem at the moment.

I suspect this new enclosure is in the bison field , where the open topped langur enclosures are. I guess the plan is to turn the whole field into open top monkey exhibits eventually, which would be awesome and hopefully faciliate larger breeding groups.
 
Presumably, like the Javan Langurs, they can access the tall trees in the enclosure too.

Compare the suitability of this for Gibbons, to Marwell's Siamang enclosure. Maybe Marwell people should take a look.
 
leiclad20 said:
Another simple and effective primate exhibit at the aspinal parks. For all their faults, I do think they get it right each time with new primate enclosures.

Acquiring new quenon specimens seems to be a nationwide problem at the moment.
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They do indeed. Each seems better than the last. Its a direction I hope they keep on going in and maybe adding more species along the way too.

I think the paucity of Guenons is because so few places are keeping and breeding them, as discussed on here previously they are just fading away in Zoos- with the obvious exceptions of a few species such as Diana, De Brazza and the seemingly upcoming 'L'Hoests Guenon.
 
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Another Javan Langur was born last month and has been named Malang.
The enclosure that is being renovated at the moment by the restaurant that used to have tigers might hold North Chinese Leopards, i thought they were going to get Tigers for it again does anybody think they will start breeding Bengal Tigers again ??

GB
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
I think it's the amount of L'Hoest's available nowdays... Blackpool got a pair over the summer and the good breeding success (Edinburgh is the best in the UK) and more willing holders too.
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Agree with Jordan. And I think the reason they are more available is because at a few zoos e.g. Colchester & Edinburgh, they have been successful breeders making offspring available to pair with others. Some were also imported from the US recently. Why L'Hoest's should be more successful than e.g. Hamlyn's owl-faced or some other species I'm not so sure.

I think with Guenons generally they just haven't been given enough attention in recent years to perpetuate some species, or the demand from the zoos isn't there, or maybe some of both.
 
Pertinax said:
Agree with Jordan. And I think the reason they are more available is because at a few zoos e.g. Colchester & Edinburgh, they have been successful breeders making offspring available to pair with others. Some were also imported from the US recently. Why L'Hoest's should be more successful than e.g. Hamlyn's owl-faced or some other species I'm not so sure.

I think with Guenons generally they just haven't been given enough attention in recent years to perpetuate some species, or the demand from the zoos isn't there, or maybe some of both.
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Edinburgh have imported two lots of L'Hoest's haven't they? I'm sure they acquired five from the US and another male from the US. Colchester's new male is from Scandinavia I think, Colchester's numbers have reduced from the pair and offspring. The old male at Colchester (Chris?) was from AA's old pair.
 
GorillaBoy said:
Another Javan Langur was born last month and has been named Malang.
The enclosure that is being renovated at the moment by the restaurant that used to have tigers might hold North Chinese Leopards, i thought they were going to get Tigers for it again does anybody think they will start breeding Bengal Tigers again ??

GB
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The enclosure you are referring to is/has been/being updated for North Chinese Leopards. Re: Bengal Tigers, as much as I would love to see pure-bred Bengals I think they will only hold the current 'Zoo generic' Tigers which they currently hold.

Current Tigers are;
'Lahore' - born 6th October 1998 at Howletts (Harami x Pindi)
'Manas' - born 5th June 1997 at PL

Lahore was part of a litter of three (2.1) her brothers are at PL (Calcutta and Delhi) Calcutta and Delhi moved to PL in 1999/2000.
 
zoogiraffe said:
I hope not unless,they are going to import some that are pure un-like the ones they currently keep!
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In that highly unlikely situation, that would be a real coup.

Having said that, I'd much prefer they got Malayan tigers.

Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
The enclosure you are referring to is/has been/being updated for North Chinese Leopards.
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It will be good to have this subspecies in a bigger enclosure, they're lovely creatures.
 
Leopards are good climbers,will they be leaving it open topped or will it be netted over? Are the Siberian lynx in the adjacent enclosure staying put or is this also for the leopards?
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
Edinburgh have imported two lots of L'Hoest's haven't they? I'm sure they acquired five from the US and another male from the US.
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Think some of these imported ones were for 'redistribution' to other zoos, maybe making up fresh pairs with some of their own homebred ones. Twycross recently got a pair from them.

I think one reason L'Hoests may be successful is they are quite a bold species of Guenon, unlike e.g. Hamlyn's, so maybe less prone to stress in Zoos and therefore breed more freely.
 
I did my enrichment course at Port Howlettes and Lymph, lovely zoo!
I recommend a visit, and of course they have beautiful grounds and clouded leopards!
 
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