I have just found out that the first RSCC tapirs were indeed from Howletts, they were Kingut and Malacca. Malacca is now one of the females being run with Hunter at Port Lympne, and I assume Kingut either went elsewhere or is in fact the older male Kasih who died back at Port Lympne in 2008.
I've just also realised Daeng, whom the article says was recently sent to Madrid, was the breeding male at PL for many years, and one of the 2.2 imported from Singapore. The JAF website says that Port Lympne have had eight successful Malayan tapir births at Port Lympne, 3.3 of these to Daeng and Lidana (who was also born there, making seven births accounted for). Tengui, a female, was Lidana's last calf, born in 2006. Copasih, a male, was born in 2008 to one of Lidana's calves, 1998-born Lidaeng and was the first 3rd generation birth at PL. I believe his father was called Kasih, and that this male died in 2008. I also believe Copasih was sent to Leipzig last year.
I believe these to be the current PL tapirs:
F Istana - 4,5 years old, unsure of birthplace
F Tengui - Born PL 2006
M Hunter - Born London 2009
F Lidana - Born PL 1989 (has had six calves, including Tengui, Malacca and Lindaeng).
F Malacca - Born 2000 at PL *I think this was the 2000 calf born there*
F Lidaeng - Born 1998 at PL, has had one calf (M - Copasih - left for Leipzig in 2010).
So, I am assuming that the 1980's Howlett's animals moved to Port Lympne (they were kept in the orchard paddock, now a car park), and didn't breed (previously PL only had South American tapir). I am also assuming that the 2.2 imported from Singapore were housed in the Sumatran rhinoceros complex from their arrival (a) to be quarantined and (b) because I saw Malayan tapir signage here very soon after the complex opened. There was still at least one Malayan tapir in the orchard paddock until the late 90's.
I would be interested to know:
(1) Whether 'Kingut' who originally went to the RSCC was actually the old male 'Kasih' who died in 2008 at PL, and if this animal was the other male who arrived with Daeng and two females from singapore around 1988.
(2) Whether any of the other tapirs imported from Singapore are still alive, or if Daeng (the breeding male for the last 10-15 years) is the only surviving animal from this import.
It is clear that the breeding programme at PL has relied upon one very prolific pair producing young with a good survival rate. Now that the older, breeding male has been sent to Madrid, it looks as if hopes of restarting breeding at PL rest on the London-born male.