More on KentOnline
Home Canterbury News Article
A wildlife park is celebrating a baby boom ahead of the half term holidays.
Howletts near Canterbury has been blessed with several new arrivals, all of whom are making their debut in front of visitors this week.
Visitors to the attraction will be able to watch baby gelada baboons chase each other and play in their large open top habitat near the gatehouse.
In the leafy Walking With Lemurs habitat, an infant-crowned lemur has also been spotted clinging to its mother.
Meanwhile, a baby gibbon has been born to experienced parents, Aldo and Saraswati, as part of the park’s successful breeding programme with these endangered primates.
Animal director Adrian Harland said: "We’ve welcomed a number of appealing new arrivals at Howletts.
"It’s great to see them start exploring with their mothers and basking in the late spring sunshine.
"Sadly, in the wild all these species are under threat.
"Lemurs and gibbons are endangered.
"The Aspinall Foundation has established, and funds protected areas in Madagascar where lemurs occur and is reintroducing captive born gibbons, from our rescue centre, into areas of forest we monitor in Java.
"Just breeding these animals is not enough we have to protect their habitat, and look to reintroduce them, to ensure their survival."
Until Sunday, June 2, the wild animal park has announced that a variety of conservation based activities will be taking place, including conservation talks, where visitors can learn more about the work of The Aspinall Foundation.
For more ideas for days out and places to go, head to our What's On section.