RARE NEW ARRIVALS AT THE KENT PARKS
Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks in Kent are celebrating the latest additions to their tapir and gibbon families. Port Lympne welcomes the arrival of the first ever Moloch Gibbon born at the park, whilst over at Howletts a new baby Brazilian Tapir has just been born at the park.
Baby Moloch Gibbon
Often referred to as silver or Javan gibbons, molochs live in mature tropical rainforests in the western half of the South East Asian island of Java and are one of the most endangered of all gibbons, with estimates showing there may be less than 2,000 in the wild. This new arrival adds to the parks' growing population of this endangered species as, since establishing a successful breeding programme in 1988, Howletts has seen 23 baby moloch gibbons born; making it home to over half the world's captive Moloch Gibbon population outside of their natural habitat.
***The Baby Moloch Gibbon can be seen at Port Lympne Wild Animal & Safari Park, Lympne, Nr Hythe, Kent.***
Baby Brazilian Tapir
The spotty, stripey baby Brazilian Tapir will develop its uniform pinkish brown coat at around 6 to 8 months. Like its Malayan cousin, the Brazilian Tapir can reach six and a half feet long and over 500 pounds in adulthood. The total number of tapirs of all species is declining due, in part, to the continued destruction of their forest habitat.
***The baby Brazilian Tapir can be seen at Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bekesbourne, Nr Canterbury, Kent.***
Adrian Harland, Animal Director at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park said of the new arrivals: "We're extremely proud to welcome the new arrivals to Howlett & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks. Breeding programmes like the ones we have in place at our wild animal parks are important for the continued survival of vulnerable species like the Brazilian Tapir and absolutely essential for the endangered Moloch Gibbon; ensuring they do not disappear from the planet forever."
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Howletts & Port Lympne
Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks were set up by the late John Aspinall with the aim of protecting and breeding rare and endangered species and returning to safe areas in their native homeland. The Aspinall Foundation is the charity which manages Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, it is funded solely from charitable donations. World leaders in conservation, The Aspinall Foundation working in conjunction with the parks have so far returned to the wild Przewalski's horses, black rhino, Sumatran rhino, Cape buffalo, ocelots, pythons and gorillas. Donations to The Aspinall Foundation goes towards our vital conservation work here and abroad, including our gorilla rescue and rehabilitation projects in Africa.
The objectives of the charity are to halt the extinction of rare and endangered species and to provide the most natural environment possible for the animals; to continue to be world leaders in animal husbandry and breeding; and to be a partner and catalyst to conservation efforts at home and overseas.
The Aspinall Foundation also aims to increase public understanding of animals and their welfare and the issues involved in their conservation. The ultimate objective is to re-introduce the animals back to their wild habitat where possible.
For images / interviews / further information about Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, contact Grace on 0207 749 6851 or [email protected]
