Howletts Wild Animal Park Mission

John Aspinall started his famous animal collection in 1957 when he bought Howletts Wild Animal Park. In 1973 he bought Port Lympne Wild Animal Park to help house the growing groups of animals. Today the two wild animal parks are home to over 1000 animals and 100 different species. The Aspinall Foundation, is the registered charity set up to work with the wild animal parks in Kent who are responsible for the reintroduction and ongoing management in the wild of animals that have been born in Kent. To date The Aspinall Foundation have reintroduced western lowland gorilla, black rhino and przewalski horses born in Kent back into the wild.

• To halt the extinction of rare and endangered species in the wild
• To continue to provide the most natural environment possible for the animals in both parks
• To re-introduce these animals back to their wild habitat where this is possible
• To continue to be world leaders in animal husbandry and breeding
• To be a partner and catalyst to conservation efforts at home and abroad
• Increasing public understanding of animals and their welfare and the issues involved in their conservation
• To manage wilderness areas
• To develop sustainable conservation-minded activities which provide economic benefits on a local and national scale.

Opening times and Prices:

Please visit Howletts Wild Animal Park’s website for up-to-date opening times and prices.

Directions:

By Road:
Howletts is in Bekesbourne, Kent and is signposted off the A2, three miles south of Canterbury.

By Rail:
Just 90 minutes from London Victoria and a minibus runs from Bekesbourne station at peak times. Please call 01227 721286.