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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox zoo
{{Infobox zoo
|zoo_name=Howletts Wild Animal Park
|zoo_name=Howletts Wild Animal Park
|image=Howletts-house.jpg
|image=Howletts-house.jpg
|image_caption= Howletts House
|date_opened=1975
|date_opened=1975
|location=[[Bekesbourne]]/[[Canterbury]], [[Kent]], [[England]]
|location=[[Bekesbourne]] near [[Canterbury]], [[Kent]], [[England]]
|area={{convert|90|acre|ha}}
|area={{convert|90|acre|ha}}
|num_species=44<ref name="sehlinger">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ptk82Uwd_ikC&pg=PA474 | title=The Unofficial Guide to Britain's Best Days Out, Theme Parks and Attractions | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | author=Sehlinger, Bob | year=2011 | isbn=9781119971139}}</ref>
|num_species=40+
|num_animals=350+
|num_animals=450+{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}
}}
}}
⚫
'''Howletts Wild Animal Park''' (formerly known as '''Howletts Zoo''') in the parish of Bekesbourne,<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">Edward Hasted, 'Parishes: Bekesborne', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 9 (Canterbury, 1800), pp. 266-276 [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp266-276]</ref> near [[Canterbury]] in [[Kent]], was established as a private [[zoo]] in 1957 by [[John Aspinall (zoo owner)|John Aspinall]].<ref name="sehlinger"/> In 1962, the House known as Howletts was being restored. A small cottage was inhabited by an employee. The animal collection was opened to the public in 1975.<ref name="sehlinger"/> To give more room for the animals another estate at Port Lympne near [[Hythe, Kent|Hythe]] in [[Kent]] was purchased in 1973, and opened to the public as [[Port Lympne Zoo]] in 1976.
⚫
[[File:Howletts-loxodonta-africana-01.jpg|thumb|[[African Bush Elephant|African elephants]] at Howletts]]
⚫
'''Howletts Wild Animal Park''' (formerly known as '''Howletts Zoo''') was set up as a private [[zoo]] in 1957 by [[John Aspinall (zoo owner)|John Aspinall]] near [[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|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. Crocodile Hunter [[Steve Irwin]] visited the park in 2004 and said the following about his visit - "I love this joint and I love these gorillas – they’re the finest in the world.".<ref>Crocodile Hunter News - http://www.crocodilehunter.com.au/crocodile_hunter/news_articles/2004/flyingvisit.html</ref>
The collection is known for being unorthodox, for the encouragement of close personal relationships between staff and animals,<ref name="sehlinger"/> and for the breeding of rare and endangered species. [[Steve Irwin]] visited the park in 2004 and described the zoo's gorillas as "the finest in the world".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crocodilehunter.com.au/crocodile_hunter/news_articles/2004/flyingvisit.html|title=Crocodile Hunter - News|website=www.crocodilehunter.com.au|access-date=2020-01-07}}</ref>


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]].
Since 1984, both parks have been owned by the [[The Aspinall Foundation|John Aspinall Foundation]], a charity. Following his death, John Aspinall was buried in front of the Howletts House and a memorial was built next to the grave near the [[bison]].
The most recent extension to Howletts was the [[black and white colobus]] open-topped enclosure, just behind the entrance.
A later extension to Howletts was an open-topped enclosure for [[black and white colobus]], just behind the entrance.


== Animal collection ==
== Animal collection ==
⚫
[[File:Howletts-loxodonta-africana-01.jpg|thumb| [[African bush elephant|African elephants]] at Howletts, the largest breeding herd in the United Kingdom]]
Howletts Wild Animal Park is home to the largest breeding herd of [[African Elephant]]s in the UK and one of the largest breeding groups of [[Lion-Tailed Macaque]]s in the world. However, the park is most famous for having some of the largest family groups of [[Western Lowland Gorilla]]s in the world.
The park is most famous for having some of the largest family groups of [[western lowland gorilla]]s in the world. It is also home to the largest breeding herd of African elephants in the United Kingdom and has one of the largest breeding groups of lion-tailed macaques in the world.
== old woods animals ==
[[donkeys]]
[[kangaroos]]
[[rabbits]]
baby [[pigs]]
[[bears]]


Some of the animals in its collection include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Animals at Howletts Wildlife Park - Elephants, Rhinos & More |url=https://www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/animals/}}</ref>
== old jungle animals ==
*[[African bush elephant]]
[[kangaroos]]
⚫
*[[African wild dog]]
[[lizards]]
[[asian elephants]]
*[[Amur leopard]]
[[giant pandas]]
*[[Bat-Eared Fox]]
*[[Black-and-white ruffed lemur]]
[[rabbits]]
[[crows]]
*[[Black lemur]]
*[[South American tapir|Brazilian tapir]]
[[bengal tigers]]
*[[African buffalo|Cape buffalo]]
[[snakes]]
*[[Capybara]]
[[squirrel monkeys]]
*[[Celebes crested macaque]]'
[[parrots]]
[[ lemurs]]
*[[Chital]]
[[white tigers]]
*[[Clouded leopard]]
*[[Crowned lemur]]
== new jungle animals ==
[[ leopards]]
*[[De Brazza's monkey]]
*[[Dhole]]
[[siberian tigers]]
[[snow leopards]]
*[[Dusky leaf monkey]]
*[[Mantled guereza|Eastern black-and-white colobus monkey]]
[[sumatran tigers]]
*[[Eastern black rhinoceros]]
⚫
[[african wild dogs]]
*[[Bongo (antelope)|Eastern bongo]]
[[dholes]]
[[african elephants]]
*[[Eurasian wolf]]
*[[European bison]]
[[gorillas]]
[[antelopes]]
*[[Fishing cat]]
*[[François' langur]]
[[tapirs]]
[[rhinos]]
*[[Gelada]]
[[ hogs]]
*[[Giant anteater]]
[[capybaras]]
*[[Greater kudu]]
[[giant anteaters]]
*[[Iberian wolf]]
*[[East Javan langur|Javan langur]]
[[lemurs]]
[[monkeys]]
*[[Lion]]
*[[Lion-tailed macaque]]
[[wild cats]]
[[ocelots]]
*[[Margay]]
*[[Nilgai]]
== new woods animals ==
[[iberian wolves]]
*[[Pallas's cat]]
*[[Red-bellied lemur]]
[[bisons]]
[[deer]]
*[[Red river hog]]
*[[Ring-tailed lemur]]
[[honey badgers]] [ or honey [[bears]] ]
[[lynxes]]
*[[Serval]]
*[[Siamang]]
*[[Silvery gibbon]]
*[[Snow leopard]]
*[[Sumatran tiger]]
*[[Waterbuck]]
*[[Western lowland gorilla]]
*[[Sooty mangabey|White-naped mangabey]]


==Charity events==
==Special Events (Charity)==
The charity that runs Howletts and [[Port Lympne Zoo|Port Lympne Wild Animal Park]], the [[John Aspinall (zoo owner)|John Aspinall]] Foundation, also runs animal conservation programmes. It has recent success in releasing a [[black Rhino]] into the [[Wilderness|wild]] and has previously released other [[black rhino]]s and [[gorilla]]s.
The charity that runs Howletts and [[Port Lympne Zoo|Port Lympne Wild Animal Park]], the [[John Aspinall (zoo owner)|John Aspinall]] Foundation, also runs animal conservation programmes. It has had recent success in releasing a [[black rhino]] into the [[Wilderness|wild]] and has previously released other [[black rhino]]s and [[gorilla]]s.


==On TV==
==Television==
⚫
Howletts and Port Lympne have featured on the CBBC television programme ''[[Roar (UK TV series)|Roar]]''. This shows the two parks, the life of the animals and how the keepers look after them. The first series was filmed in 2006 and, as of March 2009, there have been four series in total.
[[File:Siberian tiger at Howletts Wild Animal Park.jpg|thumb|lright|[[Siberian tiger]] at Howletts]]

⚫
Port Lympne has featured on the CBBC television programme ''[[Roar (UK TV series)|Roar]]''. This shows the two parks, the life of the animals and how the keepers look after them. The first series was filmed in 2006 and, as of March 2009, there have been four series in total.
==Howletts House==
Originally called Owletts, in the parish of Bekesbourne,<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> the present house containing 30 rooms was built for Isaac Baugh in 1787 and replaced a previous house which had been the seat of the Isaac family until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I,<ref>Hasted</ref> later of the Hales family for several generations. It passed into the ownership of the Gipps family in 1816. It has been a [[Listed building#England and Wales|Grade II* listed]] building and on the [[National Heritage List for England]] since January 1967.<ref name=NHLE>{{NHLE|num=1336480|desc=Howletts (Howletts Zoo Park)|access-date=2 April 2021|mode=cs2}}</ref> The house is presently let by the Aspinall Foundation to [[Damian Aspinall]]<ref name=TimesApr21>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/watchdog-investigates-aspinall-foundation-the-charity-linked-to-boris-johnson-bpgf0w3jm|title=Watchdog investigates Aspinall Foundation, the charity linked to Boris Johnson|author=Henry Zeffman|date=1 April 2021|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=GuardApr21>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/02/carrie-symonds-aspinall-foundation-a-network-of-family-wealth-and-a-charity-investigation|title=Carrie Symonds, a network of family wealth and a charity investigation |author=Patrick Butler|date=2 April 2021|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2 April 2021}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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|format=Video
|format=Video
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|publisher=[[BBC]]
| date=2008-09-10 | accessdate=2010-01-05}} of [[Pallas' cat]]
| date=2008-09-10 | access-date=2010-01-05}} of [[Pallas' cat]]
* {{imdb title|2193907|Roar (UK TV series)}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q7339822|title=Roar (UK TV series)}}


{{British zoos}}
{{British zoos}}
{{Zoos}}


{{coord |51|16|N|1|9|E|display=title}}
{{coord |51|16|N|1|9|E|display=title}}


{{authority control}}
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[[Category:Visitor attractions in Kent]]

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[[Category:Zoos in England]]
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[[Category:City of Canterbury]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kent]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kent]]
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[[Category:City of Canterbury]]
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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kent]]
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[[Category:Zoos in England]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed zoo buildings]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Kent]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed houses]]

Latest revision as of 16:01, 7 November 2024

Howletts Wild Animal Park
Howletts House
Map
Date opened1975
LocationBekesbourne near Canterbury, Kent, England
Land area90 acres (36 ha)
No. of animals450+[citation needed]
No. of species44[1]

Howletts Wild Animal Park (formerly known as Howletts Zoo) in the parish of Bekesbourne,[2] near Canterbury in Kent, was established as a private zoo in 1957 by John Aspinall.[1] In 1962, the House known as Howletts was being restored. A small cottage was inhabited by an employee. The animal collection was opened to the public in 1975.[1] To give more room for the animals another estate at Port Lympne near Hythe in 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,[1] and for the breeding of rare and endangered species. Steve Irwin visited the park in 2004 and described the zoo's gorillas as "the finest in the world".[3]

Since 1984, both parks have been owned by the John Aspinall Foundation, a charity. Following his death, John Aspinall was buried in front of the Howletts House and a memorial was built next to the grave near the bison. A later extension to Howletts was an open-topped enclosure for black and white colobus, just behind the entrance.

Animal collection

[edit]
African elephants at Howletts, the largest breeding herd in the United Kingdom

The park is most famous for having some of the largest family groups of western lowland gorillas in the world. It is also home to the largest breeding herd of African elephants in the United Kingdom and has one of the largest breeding groups of lion-tailed macaques in the world.

Some of the animals in its collection include:[4]

Charity events

[edit]

The charity that runs Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, the John Aspinall Foundation, also runs animal conservation programmes. It has had recent success in releasing a black rhino into the wild and has previously released other black rhinos and gorillas.

Television

[edit]

Howletts and Port Lympne have featured on the CBBC television programme Roar. This shows the two parks, the life of the animals and how the keepers look after them. The first series was filmed in 2006 and, as of March 2009, there have been four series in total.

Howletts House

[edit]

Originally called Owletts, in the parish of Bekesbourne,[2] the present house containing 30 rooms was built for Isaac Baugh in 1787 and replaced a previous house which had been the seat of the Isaac family until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I,[5] later of the Hales family for several generations. It passed into the ownership of the Gipps family in 1816. It has been a Grade II* listed building and on the National Heritage List for England since January 1967.[6] The house is presently let by the Aspinall Foundation to Damian Aspinall[7][8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Sehlinger, Bob (2011). The Unofficial Guide to Britain's Best Days Out, Theme Parks and Attractions. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781119971139.
  2. ^ a b Edward Hasted, 'Parishes: Bekesborne', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 9 (Canterbury, 1800), pp. 266-276 [1]
  3. ^ "Crocodile Hunter - News". www.crocodilehunter.com.au. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Animals at Howletts Wildlife Park - Elephants, Rhinos & More".
  5. ^ Hasted
  6. ^ Historic England, "Howletts (Howletts Zoo Park) (1336480)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 April 2021
  7. ^ Henry Zeffman (1 April 2021). "Watchdog investigates Aspinall Foundation, the charity linked to Boris Johnson". The Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  8. ^ Patrick Butler (2 April 2021). "Carrie Symonds, a network of family wealth and a charity investigation". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
[edit]

51°16′N 1°9′E / 51.267°N 1.150°E / 51.267; 1.150

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