Howletts » Howletts Wild Animal Park

13-09-2008

Howletts has plenty of space really. The issue as someone points out is that you need a clump of trees and then some distance between these and any others, rather than continuous woodland that would allow primates to escape.

The Cape buffalo were sent to a private reserve in South Africa, about the same time as they sent their Brown and Striped Hyenas to SA too.

15-09-2008

It may not have been a private reserve, but a private zoo - Tygerburg Zoo. I met the owner over a decade ago. John Spence (nice chap), was close friends with Durrell and Aspinall. I believe he was the source of a number of South African species at Howletts in the past.

15-09-2008

I don't think they gave that impression in 'help' at the time, but it wouldn't surprise me.

15-09-2008

I'm sure to Howlett's/PL the phrase 'private reserve'(where possible) sounds more in keeping with their aims than 'zoo' when talking about exporting their animals.

15-09-2008

That sounds about right with some of there claims

Howletts & Port Lympne update.
13-10-2008

Not much to report since Gentle Lemur's visit in August, but here's a few notes;

Howletts;

Heck's Macaque pair now moved to enclosure in woodland walk behind Mansion.
Persian Leopard newly arrived ( in enclosure adjacent to Iberian wolves) Iberian wolves VERY shy- invisible(!)
2 baby Siberian tigers on show.
RR Hogs have another 2 partly grown babies.
Large open air Colobus/Gelada baboon enclosure near entrance is enormous and nicely planted but deciduous trees in centre already badly damaged by the Colobus.
Very impressed by 'Djangou' the youngest Gorilla group leader- a superb young silverback( aged 15) in peak condition.

Port Lympne;

New cheetah arrived(near Maned Wolves)
Black rhino 'Quinto' from Chester having a few problems settling in(see 'Black Rhinos in Europe' thread for details)
12 'Barbary' Lions kept in four different combinations(one breeding pair)
Only two female elephants seen, plus the bull 'Kruger'
RR Hogs. Old male of non-breeding pair has died and been replaced with young boar bred from the Howletts pair- perhaps they will breed at PL now as this is exactly same situation as Belfast had with theirs.
Guinea Baboons- the ones in the entrance cage are 3 new males to be added to the existing group. (The group are breeding now).
Open monkey enclosure- trees remain undamaged despite large Colobus group but problems with them escaping- one youngster was out during my visit.
Tractor/Trailer buses to give free lifts round the steep hilly park have been dispensed with- you must do the 'African Experience' tour (I didn't) to ride in a vehicle at all now. The rest of it,the whole western side you have to walk around now! (good for Uk's obese population..)

Any questions I can try and answer...

14-10-2008

Thanks for the update do you have you any pics of the young Silverback Djangou ?

14-10-2008

On my film camera only... he is extremely impressive but does not look at all like his father Djala at Port Lympne- he must take more after his mother 'Sangha' in the 'Kifu' group.

14-10-2008

Sadly Shara died in July.

14-10-2008

Cause of death?

15-10-2008

Something to do with a twisted intestine I believe

15-10-2008

are you shore they have persian leopard and cheetah??????????????????????????????????
if so were did they come from?

15-10-2008

I saw the Cheetah. I saw the sign on the enclosure for the leopard. Both arrived very recently. I don't know the sources.

16-10-2008

BBC NEWS | England | Kent | Endangered big cats born at zoo

News story on the tiger cubs

16-10-2008

Thanks for that news Jimmy