An animal park boss has questioned the point of zoos when it comes to reintroducing cheetahs to the wild.

Damian Aspinall, who runs Howletts near Canterbury and Port Lympne near Hythe, was commenting about how few of the big cats born in captivity were being "re-wilded".

In a video he posted on Instagram today, he said: "There are less than 7,000 cheetah in the wild yet in the last three years globally in captivity in all zoos they've had 500 cheetah births.

"Why is it that Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks are the only animal parks in the world attempting to re-wild cheetah back into their natural habitat.

"I mean, what is the point of zoos breeding 500 cheetah when there's only 7,000 left in the wild and they're not making any attempt whatsoever to try and rehabilitate these animals back to where they belong?

"It's outrageous. What are zoos doing? What is the point of them if they're not going to do this?"

Earlier this year, two cheetahs, Saba and Nairo, became the first captive-born hand-raised cubs to be taken to Africa.

Saba was raised by Mr Aspinall and his wife, Victoria, at their home.

He and Nairo headed to Ashia’s Cheetah Center in South Africa’s Western Cape and will eventually move to Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve.

It is not the first time Mr Aspinall, chairman of the Aspinall Foundation, has raised concerns about zoos.

In December last year, he sparked controversy by saying parents should not take their children to zoos which should in turn be phased out within 30 years.

The Aspinall Foundation, which manages conservation projects in the Congo, Gabon, Indonesia, Madagascar and Southern Africa, is KentOnline's charity of the year and is seeking to raise £100,000 to help rescue animals in South Africa.

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