Gardening for Gorillas at The Aspinall Foundation's Howletts Wild Animal Park

27 September 2012

Western lowland gorillas at Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury, were treated to an edible garden in their enclosure recently when the gardening team decked out their home with floral and leafy treats.

The 12 strong group of gorillas, headed by impressive silverback, Djanghou, were given access to the newly decorated garden whilst keepers and gardeners held their breath as the makeover was revealed.

Lorna Wanless, Head of Gorilla Section commented: ‘All of the group were happy to see so much food scattered around – they immediately got busy investigating, foraging and eating...The Aspinall Foundation’s Port Lympne and Howletts Wild Animal Parks in Kent were set up by the late John Aspinall to be centres of excellence for animal husbandry within which to protect and breed threatened species, with a view to returning them to the wild wherever possible.

The Aspinall Foundation is a world leading conservation charity dedicated to keeping John Aspinall’s innovative conservation ethos alive leading the way through education, captive breeding and reintroduction. The Aspinall Foundation has projects both in the UK and overseas, including Java, Madagascar, Congo and The Gabon. Working in conjunction with the parks, The Aspinall Foundation has so far returned to the wild Przewalski's horses, black rhino, Cape buffalo, Burmese pythons and western lowland gorillas.

Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks have been awarded Best Leisure and Tourism Business in Kent at the KEiBA awards 2012.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/9/prweb9945526.htm