The Aspinall Foundation Mission

"Our commitment is to conservation, through captive breeding, education, and reintroduction"

ABOUT THE ASPINALL FOUNDATION

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 90 different species. Now through The Aspinall Foundation, a registered charity, we work to ensure that the late John Aspinall's innovative work in protecting and breeding wild animals should continue. As well as the two wild animal parks in Kent, The Aspinall Foundation manages two gorilla rescue and rehabilitation projects in central African countries of Gabon and Congo, where we have successfully reintroduced over 50 gorillas. As well as projects being developed in Indonesia and Madagascar.

It is a sad fact that humans are likely to cause the extinction of a quarter of all known species in the next 20 years, unless we work to protect them now. If just one species disappears' many others may suffer - we all rely on others to survive, upsetting this balance can put many in danger. Imagine a world without animals? Play your part in their protection today - How you can help?

THE CHARITY INCLUDES

The two wild animal parks in Kent, Howletts and Port Lympne are very different from conventional zoos. It is not always possible to return animals to the wild and sometimes the only hope for the long term survival of certain species is to be able to live and breed in conditions as close to their natural habitat as possible.

Project Protection des Gorillas, Gabon in Bateke Plateau and National Park Project Protection des Gorillas, Congo in Lefini Reserve where the charity protects and reintroduces gorillas.

The Aspinall Foundation - USA - is a non-profit corporation, organized under the laws of the State of California, to further and advance the interests of The Aspinall Foundation in the USA.

OUR OBJECTIVES ARE

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.