Animal attractions Howletts and Port Lympne in Kent are inviting visitors to come and meet some of the Kings of the animal kingdom over the Coronation bank holiday weekend, 6th – 8th May 2023.
From playful primates to big cats, here’s a snapshot of some of our very own Kings and their families who you can meet at Howletts and Port Lympne.
Lee, the Gelada
Lee is an adult male Gelada who calls Howletts his home. He was born in 2010 and has six children. Lee will captivate you with his long hair and large fearsome looking teeth, but deep down he is a friendly giant and has the female Geladas running rings around him.
During the day you will find Lee being groomed by his fellow females, screaming when the keeper arrives to bring his food, playing with his offspring and doing what Geladas do best – grazing in the large open top grass paddock.
Geladas are the last surviving species of a once widespread group of grass grazing primates. In the wild, they are only found on the rocky highland escarpments of Northern Ethiopia.
Kifu, the Gorilla
Kifu the Gorilla is a natural born leader at Howletts, weighing in at 220kg. Born in 1987, the 36-year-old is father to 12. Gorilla politics can be complex and challenging, but Kifu’s leadership capabilities have been proven over the years. Assertive, confident and caring, he keeps the peace in his group whether it’s with a subtle side long glance or physical intervention.
His role as silverback includes the responsibility of protecting his group. Always the last out of the house, he won’t leave anyone behind.
Over the years he has displayed strong parenting skills acting as a role model and protector for his offspring. Kifu particularly enjoys his food and is known for using a stick to collect anything that has fallen out of the enclosure.
Coco, the Elephant
At over 3m tall and weighing 4.6 tonnes, 22-year-old Coco truly is the King of Howletts. Despite his enormous stature, he still has a lot of growing to do and won’t be in his prime until his 30s or 40s.
Coco has an important role at Howletts in teaching our young bulls Impi and Mchumba about this side of elephant society. He is a very good-natured elephant, popular with the females, admired by the young bulls and is trusted by the calves and adored by his keepers. His favourite foods are Birch brows and watermelon which he receives as an occasional treat.
Tai Wada, the Clouded Leopard
Although not always overly elegant, Tai Wada is picture perfect and always ready to have his photo taken.
 He is most definitely in charge of the Clouded Leopards here at Howletts and keeps everyone on their toes, including the keepers who must ensure that he gets his dinner on time and be careful not wake him up from his midday nap.
With the largest canines relative to skull size of any wild cat species and a metre-long tail, Clouded Leopards are nothing but impressive.
Tai Wada is an excellent listener but he is prone to a bit of back chat!
Julio, the Brown Bear
Julio the brown bear weighs in at an impressive 300kg and is head of the family at Port Lympne.
He lives with his partner Encam and three offspring – Neu, Tornillo and Rojo – so he has a lot on his plate.
He’s known to be the peacekeeper, making sure he occupies his cubs with some play fighting, but he also likes a bit of ‘me time’, enjoying a few minutes of peace and quiet cooling down in his pool.
Donald, the Dwarf Forest Buffalo
Donald the Dwarf Forest Buffalo was born at Tierpark Berlin in 1999 and spent most of his life at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, before arriving at Port Lympne in 2018. Donald spent his first few years roaming out on the African Experience with his lady friend Kelly.
Last year, our Dwarf Forest Buffalo herd grew. We received three young females from Knowsley Safari Park, and Donald and Kelly joined them in a large woodland enclosure. Donald was thrilled to be the head of a real herd again and immediately took charge. He can be a bit of a grumpy old man and likes to throw his weight around, but he’s secretly a bit of a softie and will even endure the occasional head scratch from his keepers.
In March, we welcomed our first Dwarf Forest Buffalo calf, to dad Donald and mum Asha, and are hopeful that there are more babies on the way.
Zulu, the Lion
Zulu is our impressive 13-year-old male lion who lives at Port Lympne. Zulu is very protective and caring.
He asserts his dominance and power by reminding the keepers that once he has his food, they need to back off.
You often hear the sound of Zulu roaring across the park, making everyone aware of his territory.
Nebosja, the DrillÂ
Our family of drills is led by dad Nebosja, who came to Port Lympne in 2012. He was born at Hanover Zoo and is almost 19 years old.
Nebosja lives with his three wives Bibundi, Khari and Yola, and has fathered 15 children.
He rules the family with a firm but gentle hand and can often be seen playing with his offspring or practicing his majestic pose.
Nebosja really enjoys his food, particularly strong-smelling food that he likes to rub on his chest before he eats it.
Want to get closer to the Kings at Howletts and Port Lympne? Why not book an animal encounter and learn more about them from their keepers. Available at both Howletts and Port Lympne, animal experiences start from £15 per person.
For those keen to get even closer to the Kings, why not consider an overnight stay at Port Lympne? Prices for an overnight stay start from £159. For further information on animal encounters and accommodation options visit https://www.aspinallfoundation.org/
Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorter Rescue Truck with Zoo & Safari Animals
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