Howletts Wild Animal Park John Aspinall + Naturalistic Exhibits

[BlackRhino]

Like Pygathrix, I have visited both the Aspinall parks' cages and the congo gorilla forest and so I shall try and give a fair comparison.

First, what each is better at. CGF is obviously a better immersion exhibit, the fashionable style of design, at least for the near future. It provides a more natural environment for the gorillas (although I think a lot of this is setting the scene for visitors) and is more informative. It gives the gorillas a large area, demonstrates how they fit into their environment ecologically and has given the Bronx Zoo a world-class, boundary pushing exhibit.

Next, the Aspinall parks, I have spent a long time observing gorillas in both environments and, although I am no epert in gorilla behaviour, I would say they acted more naturally at Howletts. The Howletts gorilla cages are cheaper. They provide an imortant canopy, lots of enrichment activities and a wealth of climbing structures. Also, in Garden of the Apes, taking photographs is easier as there is no glass / bars.

Now to down-sides. CGF was expensive! Zooplantman would not reveal the true figure but it is certainly a lot more then the $40 million originally intended. This means that it is unlikely to be replicated by any zoo in the near future. It does not provide the same canopy cover as the Aspinall parks (although certainly more than most). Although it is a large size, I have read somewhere that Gorillas tend to remain at least 3 feet (or some similar figure) from hot-wire, which drastically reduces usable square footage. Also, there are far less climbing structures for the gorillas then at Howletts and none of the deep litter in which the Gorillas like to forage.

And now, Americans, it's the time you've all been waiting for - downsides of the Aspinall enclosures! They are ugly (although rather majestic), and, for the cages, visitor viewing is impeded. They do not provide the visitor with a sense of the gorillas natural habitat (although they do show how they are adapted to it) and there is certainly not as much or as good interpretation as there is at CGF.

So a conclusion, well looking at the evidence I would have to say that I agree with reduakari, zoos are about conservation education. Welfare of animals is, no doubt, important but, in my opinion, simply saying "the animals are well cared for" is no justification for zoos of the 21st century. Therefore, I will always find myself swinging towards the Bronx's world-class exhibit as it really gives a sense of the African rainforest and the Gorillas appeared to be content and well cared for. However, I will say congratulations to the runners-up. The Aspinall parks will nver be able to afford a CGF so they have created a substitute in which gorillas delight visitors by acting as though they would in the wild.

But, as ashley-h said, just my $0.02 .

1) I have seen pgotos of gorillas resting with their young right up against hot-wire so it doesn't take up usable space. Keyword, you "heard" and you can't believe everything you hear.

2) How do the bronx exhibits not provide a canopy. Almost the whole exhibit is covered by lush foliage above creating a natural canopy for gorillas.

3) The apes don't do anything special at Howletts that they don't do in Bronx. They forage through grass (which there is a lack of in Howletts), make hay beds up by the windows, climb on logs, and go to hidden feeders where their keepers hide treats in. So Please tell me what is it that they do at Howletts that is so natural? At bronx there is plenty of interaction among the troop so don't use that to support your arguement.

 

[Mike11]

This is an issue very close to me,
Im sure everyone here will have our own 'Zoo Hero's' and John Aspinall was mine.He really did love his animals and cared for them the best he could this in my mind is the most important factor in keeping animals.
The Keeper-Friendship bonds is a very tricky issue but something i strongly agree with - If you are going to keep animals why should you not be able to become friends with them? - This is of course if the animal in question is fine with this.He saw animals for what they really were he saw them as friends and he would trust them as much as he would his human friends.
If you take out all the love and happiness that the animal gets through the Enclosure (cage),family groups and Keeper Friendships what do you get?
He did what was best for the animals not what was best for the visitors because he didnt feel (as do i) that thats not as important.
His two zoos have become two of the finest in the world and he built them as animals come first so what does that say?

And if you are worried about the standards of the enclosures - They are quite a few of the new outdoor monkey enclosures which are some of the best i have ever seen which comprises of outdoor enclosures with plenty of vegitation,cover etc with access into a Aspinall-Style cage (they are not always as big as the other cages)
The cat enclosures are excellent there is no indoor viewing which i strongly agree with it is where they get away from visitors not to be followed by them.The new Cat enclosures at Port Lympne follow the more open pattern for the Snow Leopard and Cheetah enclosures aswell as the Lynx which has a very large cage.
The Gorilla enclosures are ugly but they give the visitors great views of gorillas acting like gorillas in proper family groups and are the most active and fittist gorillas i have seen and also the closest i have been to a Gorilla was indeed at Howletts.
Some enclosures are getting old and they are starting to be replaced but i have visited both in the last year and i thought the standards of most of the enclosure was not an issue.

They are excellent parks both in a very peaceful atmosphere where you can feel the animals come first.
Surely the reason for Zoos is to save animals so they should come first and this is what Aspinall wanted and felt his zoos should be like and for them to be happy and very content.
And i think he has succeded by a long way.

 

[redpanda]

1) I have seen pgotos of gorillas resting with their young right up against hot-wire so it doesn't take up usable space. Keyword, you "heard" and you can't believe everything you hear.

You are beginning to sound like ANyhuis . I had this discussion with him a while back in the Omaha Zoo thread, "I heard" is simply an expression I use as I think it makes my writing sound less commanding. I believe "I heard" it in one of the Coe papers and I really cannot be bothered to sift through them all. If you wish to, be my guest:

Bibliography of Professional Zoo Papers

I certainly don't believe everything "I heard" however one is inclined to trust the man who brought us landscape immersion. As with all things, of course, there will be inter-species variation (not all humans like pizza, for example, but most do), hence the image you saw.

2) How do the bronx exhibits not provide a canopy. Almost the whole exhibit is covered by lush foliage above creating a natural canopy for gorillas.

Talented as he is, even Zooplantman could not recreate the complexity of a true rainforest canopy , from this photo I believe around half the area is covered (although, as I said, this is a vast improvement on most enclosures). In the Aspinall cages, however, there is 100% canopy cover.

http://www.zoochat.com/547/bronx-zoo-congo-gorilla-forest-41177/

3) The apes don't do anything special at Howletts that they don't do in Bronx. They forage through grass (which there is a lack of in Howletts), make hay beds up by the windows, climb on logs, and go to hidden feeders where their keepers hide treats in. So Please tell me what is it that they do at Howletts that is so natural? At bronx there is plenty of interaction among the troop so don't use that to support your arguement.

Excuse me Mr BlackRhino, have you any proof that the Howletts gorillas don't do anything special, have you ever visited either of the Aspinall parks - of course not, that might lead you to presenting a valid argument. In my experience, the gorillas at Howletts did everything you say (minus the, quite frankly, ridiculous foraging in grass) as well as so much more. There is always something to watch and always some gorilla showing off to the crowd, it is difficult to explain and ask Pertinax if you want a better description, but the Gorillas at Howletts do seem so happy and, from my experience, were more interesting to watch then those at the Bronx.

They forage through grass (which there is a lack of in Howletts)

Sorry, just had to point out this argument, it is simply ridiculous point-scoring. Whereabouts in dense rainforset environments do you find grass? Granted, sometimes gorillas enter forest clearings but because they like canopy cover (see flawed argument number 2) they soon return to the forest. Foraging in straw provides enrichment, foraging in grass is simply the stupid argument of somebody who can not think of anything more intelligent to say. And, incidentally, a large number of the Aspinall parks' gorillas do have access to grass but choose to spend their time in the pavillions (demonstrating just how much weight your foraging in grass theory holds).

 

[Zooplantman]

Two quick facts to mess with the thread:

1. The gorillas at the Bronx Zoo do not avoid the hot wire. They reach through it to pick leaves from the protected plants. I do not believe that Jon Coe said what he was reported to have said. I suspect it was mis-remembered or misunderstood. I've had many discussions with Jon about Congo Gorilla Forest. In any case, the gorillas are rather indifferent to the hot-wire. The young ones jump right through it.

2. Gorillas in the wild do not spend all their time under forest canopy. Deep forest will not produce the plants they eat. One of the best places to see them is in open swampy bais where they feast on the soft vegetation. This has little to do with how they behave in zoo exhibits where they do, indeed, prefer something over their heads.

 

[BlackRhino]

This is perhaps the dumbest argument I have ever gotten into on zoochat. It is really annoying to hear everyone on hear defend an ape cage over a massive rain forest. It seems all you think an exhibit must be a hideous cage packed with unnatural toys for it to encourage natural gorilla behavior. There are ways to encourage natural gorilla behavior with natural elements.

 

[James27]

The only grass I see in the above picture is either behind hotwire or really, really short. Would there be lush grass growing deep in the African rainforest...? They forage in the straw, and at Lympne they're given the option to use grass and they don't unless they get bribed out by the keepers.
I find myself agreeing with Dalek, watching the Howletts gorillas is something special, they seem to cast a spell on you, possibly because they're within 4 feet of you? All this talk of "cages don't give you any respect for the animals" is utter BS.

 

[James27]

This is perhaps the dumbest argument I have ever gotten into on zoochat. It is really annoying to hear everyone on hear defend an ape cage over a massive rain forest. It seems all you think an exhibit must be a hideous cage packed with unnatural toys for it to encourage natural gorilla behavior. There are ways to encourage natural gorilla behavior with natural elements.

Maybe we just appreciate the cages because they're damned good and think it's unfair to bash something you've never seen?
EDIT: I understand some of you may have seen them, but several people who have a very strong opinion on them have not

 

[reduakari]

The only grass I see in the above picture is either behind hotwire or really, really short. Would there be lush grass growing deep in the African rainforest...? They forage in the straw, and at Lympne they're given the option to use grass and they don't unless they get bribed out by the keepers.
I find myself agreeing with Dalek, watching the Howletts gorillas is something special, they seem to cast a spell on you, possibly because they're within 4 feet of you? All this talk of "cages don't give you any respect for the animals" is utter BS.

Well folks, I have a news flash: wild gorillas don't "forage in grass" or much less rummage through hay looking for hidden monkey chow. They eat leaves, shoots and fruits, many of which they obtain by climbing. They are not baboons or raccoons.

"Fossiking" for treats in deep straw may keep them occupied, but there is nothing "natural" about it.

 

[James27]

It is a way to keep them busy, and that's what any form of enrichment is for. And I think straw would do a better job of that than grass, unless the grass was really tall, which it would only be if it was in the open... then the gorillas would never use it unless they had trees, but then the grass would be shorter... AHHHH

 

[redpanda]

1. The gorillas at the Bronx Zoo do not avoid the hot wire. They reach through it to pick leaves from the protected plants. I do not believe that Jon Coe said what he was reported to have said. I suspect it was mis-remembered or misunderstood. I've had many discussions with Jon about Congo Gorilla Forest. In any case, the gorillas are rather indifferent to the hot-wire. The young ones jump right through it.

Sorry to place words into his mouth, I thought it was him that said this. Must have been someone else. Although I appreciate if you have evidence pointing to the contrary of what I said, perhaps what "I heard" was misinformed or only applies in some situations.

2. Gorillas in the wild do not spend all their time under forest canopy. Deep forest will not produce the plants they eat. One of the best places to see them is in open swampy bais where they feast on the soft vegetation. This has little to do with how they behave in zoo exhibits where they do, indeed, prefer something over their heads.

From all the pictures one sees, etc. I imagined gorillas remained, for the most part, in dense forest. However, I believe both the Aspinall cages and CGF do provide a nice canopy for their apes (I just got rather defensive in my previous post).

 

[reduakari]

From all the pictures one sees, etc. I imagined gorillas remained, for the most part, in dense forest. However, I believe both the Aspinall cages and CGF do provide a nice canopy for their apes (I just got rather defensive in my previous post).

Actually, nearly all pictures of wild lowland gorillas are--as Zooplantman suggests--taken when the animals come out into the open, marshy "bais" to eat. They actually spend a good part of their days in these clearings, sometimes sharing the space with elephants, buffalo and sitatunga. Even Mountain gorillas spend a lot of time in area not covered by forest canopy, as the fresh leaves and stalks they seek grow best in clearings.

 

[taun]

This is perhaps the dumbest argument I have ever gotten into on zoochat. It is really annoying to hear everyone on hear defend an ape cage over a massive rain forest.

Strange you say this considering the argument was started by people who think the Howletts "cages" are unacceptable and slating something that works, may not be pretty but it still works.

People are just standing up for this type of enclosure and parks that are pleasant to visit. Yet somehow its been dragged into a natural vs. artificial kind of debate, that if am honest will just go around in circles.

It seems pointless discussing such matters when neither side can agree that there both similar ways of doing things but look worlds apart.

 

[Dan]

Let me just step in for a moment and say that I absolutely love this thread! It was long over-due with regards to all the discussions in The Gallery!

I am right in the middle of the two opposing camps. Animal welfare always being my personal top priority in zoo matters, I can appreciate the arguments of both sides in this debate.

So... I have nothing to add to it, I will just sit right back and enjoy the debate. I hope it will goe on for a while.

Perhaps this was a stupid post but I could not resist writing it ...

 

[kiang]

I think at the end of the day Howletts breeding results speak for themselves!
And hopefully put a cap on this argument raging across the Atlantic.

Aspinall park does indeed have quite a few naturalistic enclosures, the Malayan tapir paddocks at Port Lympne surely have to be the greatest exhibit in the world for Malayan tapirs.
The enormous margay enclosure at Port Lympne again world class
The deer park at Howletts, magnificent in its simplicity.

The aesthetics of the gorilla cages at Howletts, may be not to our tastes, but for a strong family unit of western lowland gorilla, it seems to the trick.
And this is one of the few times i feel proud to use the word cage, because after all that is exactly what it is.

 

[Pertinax]

. They eat leaves, shoots and fruits, many of which they obtain by climbing.

The Howletts gorillas climb up right up into the roof areas to be fed several times a day...I don't know ANYWHERE else where that is practised. It couldn't be done in an open enclosure.

 

[James27]

That's true, a very large bonus of having any species of primate in a cage.

 

[Pertinax]

It has been pointed out to me that there are many well-behaved visitors to the Howletts and Port Lympne parks, and there are no records of any problems with people banging on the cage doors, glass or metal bars. However, I wonder if that is because only serious animal enthusiasts visit the Aspinall parks. No one visits Port Lympne!

I'd say because both Parks are in rural areas, you don't get the very worst types of visitors rolleyes e.g. they may not get school groups!!, but they still represent a wide cross section of the populace- many being young families with small children on a day out. The reason there is no(or very little) banging on windows etc is because the cages/enclosures are surrounded by a barrier so there is little direct/up close contact through glass. Nowadays there are glass panels in some(the newer pair) of the enclosures to facilitate viewing and photography but the barrier is still there.

I believe there are two main reasons why even large numbers of people can watch the Gorillas at Howletts quietly and by and large show only good behaviour.

1. There is a barrier but otherwise the Gorillas are extremely close to you(only a matter of feet away) and really ' right there' i.e. not behind glass or seen across water.

2. At least some individuals in a group are liable to be active at any given time. There is no need for people to bang or clap or otherwise try to gain their attention as the Gorillas are already doing something so instead the public watch them, being enthralled by their behaviour. As one of our other members commented, there is a special atmosphere around those cages, one which seems largely lacking at other Gorilla enclosures.

Port Lympne is a little different in that it receives comparatively few visitors, as you rightly say. The Gorillas there are in similar style enclosures but there is only one breeding group, the others being mature bachelor males which are comparatively inactive much of the time, so they do not create quite the same interesting spectacle as at Howletts.

 

[James27]

I think the visitors at Howletts seemed to be the most respectful to the animals out of all the zoos I've visited. I agree that this is possibly due to the far off barriers, off-show houses etc.

 

[Pertinax]

I think the visitors at Howletts seemed to be the most respectful to the animals out of all the zoos I've visited. I agree that this is possibly due to the far off barriers, off-show houses etc.

I think the surroundings may have something to do with it. Most visitors are aware the Parks are privately owned and have at least heard of John Aspinall. When they walk around, past the Mansion, his grave etc they are aware they are on someone else's 'private property' and behave accordingly, even if it is subconscious. Its not a zoo like Chester, ZSL, etc, which is open for 'their' benefit- they are more like 'guests' here.

 

[James27]

That's a good point. I expected it to be full of screaming kids due to "Roar", but fortunately that wasn't the case