Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Port Lympne Wild Animal Park news 2021

Not sure if this belongs here or not but mr aspinall and the zoos are on front page of the daily mail tommorow Daily Mail Front Page 1st of April 2021 - Tomorrow's Papers Today!

Can't access the Mail article but found further info on it elsewhere :

"The Charity Commission has begun an investigation into potential financial mismanagement at a wildlife conservation foundation that appointed the prime minister's partner, Carrie Symonds, to a top corporate role.

The voluntary sector watchdog said it had opened a statutory inquiry into the Aspinall Foundation charity. It is believed it will focus on possible trustee conflicts of interest and possible misuse of charitable resources.

The timing of the inquiry will be embarrassing for Symonds, an animal lover and former Conservative party spin doctor, whose appointment to the foundation as head of communications was announced just two months ago.

The charity is chaired by Damian Aspinall, the casino owner and socialite, and its board of trustees includes members of the prominent Goldsmith and Aspinall families.

The commission opened a pre-inquiry regulatory compliance case into the charity in November with the co-operation of trustees. After identifying "further questions regarding the charity's governance", it has now decided to escalate its involvement to identify any possible misconduct, mismanagement or risk to the charity."
 
The remaining Lion cub (a male) has been removed for handrearing after his mother abandoned him. A post on the Port Lympne FB page today confirms this
 
The remaining Lion cub (a male) has been removed for handrearing after his mother abandoned him. A post on the Port Lympne FB page today confirms this
Seems like he was removed on that very cold night after the other two cubs had already died, and has been handraised since. Rather strange they only announced this now and just left everybody guessing the outcome in the interim. Perhaps wanted to make sure he would survive okay to avoid any more bad publicity over this.
 
It has been revealed (after a freedom of information request) that last year Port Lympne had 5 animal escapes in 5 months. These were...

1) Spectacled Bear -> One escaped after a keeper didn’t close the gate properly. The bear was coaxed back into the enclosure with food.

2) Margay -> Managed to climb out of the enclosure

3) Rusty-Spotted Cat -> One escaped through a hole in the enclosure fencing made by a rat. The cat has still not been caught, 9 months after its escape, however they are certain it is still on the zoo grounds as it has been spotted on cameras.

4&5) Hog Deers -> Two escaped after a fence failed. One was hurt and the other had to be put down.
 
According to their website, the Rothschild’s giraffes are now Nubian giraffes. Not quite sure what the proper verdict is, if there’s been a confusion in the taxonomy or if these individuals have been genetically tested, but here’s a link to the website:
Rothschild Giraffe - Conservation & Breeding At Port Lympne

Interesting..... especially as the bull was born in a Rothschild herd whos father was born at Woburn, and both mums were also born at Woburn. Aren't Nubian and Rothschild separate subspecies?

The escapes are worrying, especially so many( we're not just talking about one or two).
 
According to their website, the Rothschild’s giraffes are now Nubian giraffes. Not quite sure what the proper verdict is, if there’s been a confusion in the taxonomy or if these individuals have been genetically tested, but here’s a link to the website:
Rothschild Giraffe - Conservation & Breeding At Port Lympne
Interesting..... especially as the bull was born in a Rothschild herd whos father was born at Woburn, and both mums were also born at Woburn. Aren't Nubian and Rothschild separate subspecies?
One of the recent changes in some taxonomic circles is that Rothschild's Giraffes are actually a population of Nubian Giraffes (apparently the two forms are genetically identical), so a lot of zoos scrambled to rename their animals as Nubian Giraffes.
 
Through a freedom of information request, it's been discovered that at least five animals got loose at Port Lympne last year.
1. In March, two hog deer got through a "failed" fence. One had to be euthanized due to injuries.
2. In May, a margay climbed out of its exhibit.
3. In July, a rusty-spotted cat escaped through a hole. It has not been caught.
4. In August, a spectacled bear got out when a gate wasn't shut properly. It was lured back with food.

Safari park report reveals five animals escaped enclosures
 
Through a freedom of information request, it's been discovered that at least five animals got loose at Port Lympne last year.
1. In March, two hog deer got through a "failed" fence. One had to be euthanized due to injuries.
2. In May, a margay climbed out of its exhibit.
3. In July, a rusty-spotted cat escaped through a hole. It has not been caught.
4. In August, a spectacled bear got out when a gate wasn't shut properly. It was lured back with food.

Safari park report reveals five animals escaped enclosures

Clearly Damian’s using any means necessary to return his stock to the wild! Some more successfully than others it would appear!
 
Clearly Damian’s using any means necessary to return his stock to the wild! Some more successfully than others it would appear!
Through a freedom of information request, it's been discovered that at least five animals got loose at Port Lympne last year.
1. In March, two hog deer got through a "failed" fence. One had to be euthanized due to injuries.
2. In May, a margay climbed out of its exhibit.
3. In July, a rusty-spotted cat escaped through a hole. It has not been caught.
4. In August, a spectacled bear got out when a gate wasn't shut properly. It was lured back with food.

Safari park report reveals five animals escaped enclosures

A rusty spotted cat escaped and was not caught ? :eek:

What are the chances that this animal has survived the UK winter ? :(
 
There have been reports that it has been seen in the grounds. It is possible that it could have made a nice warm den in sheltered place, perhaps even against the wall of one of the heated buildings.

Well if that is the case and it has survived then wonderful but if so why hasn't it been caught and returned to its enclosure in the three / four months since it escaped ?

Kind of seems a bit like the parks are a bit like an Alice in Wonderland at the moment complete with mad hatters and red queens and dormice.
 
Through a freedom of information request, it's been discovered that at least five animals got loose at Port Lympne last year.
1. In March, two hog deer got through a "failed" fence. One had to be euthanized due to injuries.
2. In May, a margay climbed out of its exhibit.
3. In July, a rusty-spotted cat escaped through a hole. It has not been caught.
4. In August, a spectacled bear got out when a gate wasn't shut properly. It was lured back with food.

Safari park report reveals five animals escaped enclosures

Is this higher than what a zoo of that size could expect over the course of a year? Perhaps somebody who has worked in the industry could shed some light.
 
Well if that is the case and it has survived then wonderful but if so why hasn't it been caught and returned to its enclosure in the three / four months since it escaped ?

Kind of seems a bit like the parks are a bit like an Alice in Wonderland at the moment complete with mad hatters and red queens and dormice.

Double your time - 9 months, last July!


Is this higher than what a zoo of that size could expect over the course of a year? Perhaps somebody who has worked in the industry could shed some light.

Way higher. Reputable zoos have this happen maybe once a decade.
 
Double your time - 9 months, last July!




Way higher. Reputable zoos have this happen maybe once a decade.

My bad, I thought it had escaped in December !

9 months... :eek:

That is insane, I can't believe they haven't re-caught it yet and the fact that they haven't really isn't a good look. :confused:
 
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