Howletts Wild Animal Park

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Howletts Wild Animal Park (formerly known as Howletts Zoo) was set up as a private zoo in 1958 by John Aspinall in Canterbury, Kent. The animal collection was opened to the public in 1975. To give more room for the animals another estate at Port Lympne near Hythe, Kent was purchased in 1973, and opened to the public as Port Lympne Zoo in 1976.

The collection is known for being unorthodox, for the encouragement of close personal relationships between staff and animals, and for their breeding of rare and endangered species.

[edit] Animals

The 90-acre park has a large collection of western lowland gorillas and are home to the largest breeding family groups of gorillas in the world. There are 14 elephants, the largest captive breeding herd in the world. The Lion Tailed Macaques are also one of the biggest groups in the world. Other species include Asiatic Wild Dog, Axis Deer, Banded Leaf Monkey, Black and white Colobus Monkey, Black and White Ruffed Lemur, Black Rhinoceros, Blackbuck, Bongo, Brazilian Tapir, Canadian Timber Wolf, Capybara, Caracal, Clouded Leopard, De Brazza's Monkey, Dusky Langur, European Bison, Fishing Cat, Giant Anteater, Greater Kudu, Grizzled Leaf Monkey, Hog Deer, Honey Badger, Iberian Wolf, Indian Tiger, Javan Langur, Jungle Cat, Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey, Lynx, Malayan Tapir, Moloch Gibbon, Nilgai, Ocelot, Pallas Cat, Red River Hog, Serval, Siamang Gibbon, Siberian Tiger, Snow Leopard, Sumatran Tiger, Tamandua, White Faced Saki. Since 1984 both parks have been owned by a charity (The John Aspinall Foundation). Following the death of John Aspinall he was buried in front of the mansion house and a memorial was built next to the grave near the bison.

[edit] External links

• Zoo website