Misinformation at Howletts » Howletts Wild Animal Park

01-06-2008

a knowledgeable zoologist isn't necessarily analagous to being a brilliant keeper. It's a recent change in many collections that keepers are expected to give talks...and those higher up the staff tend to be old school people who didn't get a degree first and maybe just went into it straight from school. In my experience, undermining or correcting someone higher up the level of command is a most cardinal of sins in the zookeeping world, people having worked for a pittance for years to get where they are. I'm sure many of the keepers giving the talks just say what they are told to. Or, in some situations, it may be a case of Junior keepers ad libbing and the senior staff regarding the talks as an unnecessary irritation and not taking a great deal of interest in the factual inaccuracies. Bear in mind also that some collections train seasonal staff specially to give these talks, and so these people have even less experience with animals.

10-07-2008

The finaces of Aspianlls.

John Aspinall set up a trust to finaces the ongoing care of his collections. This is runing out of funds far sooner than was hoped for. He left little in his will by comparison a much smaller amount to his children. Damian, his eldest son there is an elder sister, half-brother and two step-brothers. Thank god his Damiann who created his own fortune. Who Mr John Aspinall was very proud of the fact that he did this. Is in charge now of this amazing and important legacy.

The hard facts are that Aspinalls parks need to at least break even at some point to continue with there work. So if Damian decides that he wants to have a go at achieving that let god speed his work.

Stuart