Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Port Lympne 2009

Cat-Man

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Are there any updates from any of the parks?

Can anyone answer why the roan antilope are not on the African Experiance?
 
There are two groups of Roans at Port Lympne some of which are in the African Experience the rest are in a paddock near the Elephants or at least they where in April.
 
There are two groups of Roans at Port Lympne some of which are in the African Experience the rest are in a paddock near the Elephants or at least they where in April.

Affirmative.

Those that did not see them, you just have to look a little harder (LOL) or walk the walk that is!

K.B.
 
I saw both groups on my latest visit but the field by the elephants seemed to be occupied by a lonesome male, maybe the rest were indoors.
 
After visiting yesterday...

an elephant keeper informed us that a new male giraffe named harris has arrived and is out on the african experience.

We finally found the scottish wildcat enclosure. To get there you have to walk up behind the elephant grass paddock to where the gaur used to be, and walk right along to the end of the path.
The map stated that what used to be the gaur paddock now houses banteng but none where present, are they still there?

Also a new enclosure, similar to the red pandas, is being built near the gorilla pavillion and black rhinos (after coming out of the bison paddock), anyone have any ideas what this is for?

The lion enclosure near to the african experience booking hut housed two lions, layla and jabir, however jabir seemed to be missing the mane he once had?

The mixed rhino and baboon enclosure is still nowhere near being completed.

Opposite the wolf enclosure at the top of the park near the entrance, is a new enrichment workshop building.

They also now have grants, grey, and grevys zebra.
 
Jabir was like that last year.
Im not sure whether it was something to do with maturity or a condition it would be great to find out though.
Layla and Jabir were great to watch playing about their enclosure are these ment to be a breeding pair?
Regards
 
The Banteng where in the old Gaur enclosure when I visited in April this year,but were hiding very well.
 
Jabir could have been castrated?? Port Lympne have bred alot of lions and some are over represented. Perhaps similar to Suliman, who had a great mane has now lost his mane complety due to castration.
 
I was going to say that Upali, I think I read it on here.
I didn't know you could access the area up behind the grass paddock for the eles, I guess that's the area for snow leopards and meerkats and I just didn't go tat far across.
I guess that enclosure by the rhino is for pandas, it's exactly the same as the one by the colobus and I would imagine it's for the pair that live in the cage by the lone lioness.
 
I had completely forgotten about that!
Yeah your right Castration is probably the answer.
I was just about to say are they breeding then it came into my head ;)
 
1)We finally found the scottish wildcat enclosure. To get there you have to walk up behind the elephant grass paddock...

2)The mixed rhino and baboon enclosure is still nowhere near being completed.


3)They also now have grants, grey, and grevys zebra.

Thanks for the tips as I will be visiting in October. (1) Scottish wildcat is a definite must see, since I am a wild cat photographer. (2) Rhino-baboon sounds like a fascinating mix. (3) What is a grey zebra?
 
Thanks for the tips as I will be visiting in October. (1) Scottish wildcat is a definite must see, since I am a wild cat photographer. (2) Rhino-baboon sounds like a fascinating mix. (3) What is a grey zebra?

I saw my first Scottish Wildcat last week at New forest Otter and Owl centre. My first Pine Marten too. but i saw a lot more firsts at Howletts/Port lympne.
 
I was going to say that Upali, I think I read it on here.
I didn't know you could access the area up behind the grass paddock for the eles, I guess that's the area for snow leopards and meerkats and I just didn't go tat far across.
.

to get behind the paddock, you have to walk as if going up to the meerkats and snow leopards, however you don't take those steps. There is a sign to the right saying something along the lines of 'more animals', follow this and you get a great view. the wildcats are right at the end. they are not signposted so was by pure luck i stumbled upon them :)
 
Jabir could have been castrated?? Port Lympne have bred alot of lions and some are over represented. Perhaps similar to Suliman, who had a great mane has now lost his mane complety due to castration.

Jabir has indeed been castrated.
 
Jabir has indeed been castrated.

is it correct that Suliman has also been castrated? If so, does this mean they have formally ceased breeding their Lions? Wouldn't vasectomising them have been less drastic and allow them to remain 'maned'?

any idea what the plan is for the two younger males born there?
 
is it correct that Suliman has also been castrated? If so, does this mean they have formally ceased breeding their Lions? Wouldn't vasectomising them have been less drastic and allow them to remain 'maned'?

any idea what the plan is for the two younger males born there?

Erm...not sure, I'm just an office bod, but I will find out and post here when I can :)
 
Thanks for confirming that Zoobunny.
I thought that would be the most likely reason.Pertinax When watching Roar some time ago they had a section on Soloman saying something about the mane loss i think they had castrated him but were giving him a Hormone-replacement for his mane to grow back.
Im pretty sure that is it :), and it sounds correct aswell.
Can anyone verify this?
 
I'm curios why they castrated them, rather than gave them the 'snip'(vasectomy) which wouldn't alter their 'maleness' in appearance or behaviour at all.
 
I agree with you Pertinax there must be a reason for it.
Perhaps they just wanted to be totaly sure he wouldnt breed again?
But still i think the 'snip' would'nt mean he would have to take Hormone Replacement Pills causing that to be placed into his food and sometimes causing stress if he does not take it.
He seemed to be coping well when i saw him on Roar so he is fine about it. :)
They also castrated Jabir who has exactly the same problem as Sulomon is it a barbary procaution? Or is it just coincidence that this has happened both recently at Port Lypmne.
 
Castration would cause any male Lion's mane to fall out I think, and probably it would not grow back without medication.

Vasectomy does not cause any physical changes in the animal, though it is not 100% fullproof so maybe that is why they took the more extreme option.

They now have about twelve Lions. I'm interested to know what happens with them now and whether the males of the last litter(bar one?) Moonlight & Milo will also be castrated, vasectomised, left as they are, or moved elsewhere.
 
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