Howletts Wild Animal Park Kijo
- Thread starter gentle lemur
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taun
Well-Known Member
Don't think I agree completely there, although I am awwwed at watching the videos of himself and family in with the gorillas. I still think that animals that can casue serious injury should be treated with the up most respect and people should never enter their enclosure either if they have know you for years something can always trigger the animals to turn on you.
Thanks Tuan for your opinions Yes i do agree but most of the animals i am talking about are either Hand reared or just some certain individulas i agree some animals should not be gone in with and that should be respected.
Yes but one of the major thing involved in being allowed in with them is to let the animal you respect them completely.It is a very slow process. There have only been i think 3/4 maulings at Howletts and 2 were done by the same tigress Zaya.
Regards
Yes but one of the major thing involved in being allowed in with them is to let the animal you respect them completely.It is a very slow process. There have only been i think 3/4 maulings at Howletts and 2 were done by the same tigress Zaya.
Regards
I am not sure whether they still go in with any of the adult Gorilla groups anymore. Doing this with Tigers was stopped a long while ago
All Gorillas are different. Of the earlier Howletts males, I think only Djoum, Kijo and later his son Kifu could be fully trusted as Silverbacks by the people they knew and so those enclosures could be entered.
Gugis was untrustworthy. Bitam was goodnatured but didn't know how to moderate his play so was too strong for them. I don't know about Kouillou or Djala but they came later really. They don't enter the cages at Port Lympne a.f.a.i.k
taun
Well-Known Member
I understand all Gorillas are different like humans, but we all have our snapping points.
I have seen Damien in with Kifu on a documentry it was breath taking. I have also read that he has introduced all his children to the gorillas after they are a month old. Usually by handing the child over to a dominant female and letting her show the child of to the rest of the group! ( So how much he trusts them but they will never emite all of the risks)
There has never been any(serious) injury caused by the Gorillas at Howletts.
Females are usually harmless anyway. Whhen London's female 'Lomie' was sent to Howletts for breeding, she joined Djoum's group. No one at London ever entered her cage after she was adult but at Howletts she was just taken for granted as being 'okay' and they went in with Djoum as per usual. Lomie would just climb up out of the way and not fraternise with keepers as she was suspicious of them.
Kaja, who lives at Chessington Zoo, is Kijo's full sister. She did not like Aspinall(or people?) and would cough threats at him when he tried to interact with her. So she was allowed to leave Howletts....
I have poor photos from 2002 of Damien Aspinall and one of the keepers in with Kifu and his group. A remarkable sight - Kifu seemed to enjoy it the most. They used to do it on Sunday afternoons, but I have no idea whether they still do.
That year I also heard one of the PL keeper's talks (which they don't seem to do any more either) and he was asked whether they went in with Djala's group. He replied that Djala had made it perfectly clear that he would not put up with that sort of thing.
Alan
That year I also heard one of the PL keeper's talks (which they don't seem to do any more either) and he was asked whether they went in with Djala's group. He replied that Djala had made it perfectly clear that he would not put up with that sort of thing.
Alan
taun
Well-Known Member
I have heard that keepers still enter some enclosures (usually ones with older female in) at least 3 years ago and gather they still do.
Interesting-I would like to know if Damien Aspinall and/or his family do still go in with Kifu or, if not, when it stopped. It was definately a Sunday afternoon thing in old Aspinall's day too- the 'afterlunch' entertainment. I'm presuming that Kifu's group is the last 'go-in' group. Kifu is Kijo's first born son and I know Damien Aspinall & Kifu were 'trained up' together from an ealy age when Kifu was found to be an amenable temperament. Possibly that is why Kifu was alloted a female group- so they could continue this spectacle in the future (or was it because Kifu was the 'first son of a first son'- maybe a bit of both?)
Not surprised to hear about Djala- he clearly takes a dim view of all humans and often shows it by throwing things or thumping the glass.
I'd be interested if you can supply any more details- e.g. which group.
taun
Well-Known Member
They stilled did this as recently as 2003,
taun
Well-Known Member
I say heard I watched this on a documentary, filmed around 2005. They keepers entered an enclosure with two older females. I have not seen it since and cannot remember who the females were.
Thanks for this information there is a video on youtube of Damien Aspinall with either Kifo or Kijo and is some amazing footage. I would not be suprised if this still goes on maybe after closing times etc.I think it should carry on with the right people and the right animals.
Im pretty sure they still do go in with Kifo's group
Regards
Im pretty sure they still do go in with Kifo's group
Regards
taun
Well-Known Member
Gorilla, Gorilla documentary showing them taking young gorillas back to Gabon, also showed Damien in with Kifu and this was filmed in 2003.
taun
Well-Known Member
Bably doll rings a bell, am struggling to find any information on the documentary, plus I don't have sky which was were I first saw the programme.