The Aspinall Foundation

The Aspinall Foundation (formerly The John Aspinall Foundation) is a British charity (Registered Charity 326567) which works to promote wildlife conservation. It was set up by professional gambler and zoo owner John Aspinall in 1984 and runs the two zoos he set up, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, England. It also supports a number of conservation projects overseas to protect endangered species. The charity is now run by John's son, Damian Aspinall.

In addition to running the zoos, which breed rare and endangered animals, the Foundation campaigns on a range of wildlife issues, such as opposing Chinese moves to relax the rules regarding the trade in products made from tigers.[1] The twin zoos are currently home to 14 Indian, Siberian and Sumatran tigers. The Foundation set up a project for gorillas orphaned by bush meat poachers in the Republic of Congo in the late 1980s and in 1998, set up an orphan gorilla project in the neighbouring state of Gabon.[2] It also supports the 'Project Protection des Gorilles Gabon' which is based in Franceville in Gabon and seeks to reintroduce gorillas in the Batéké Plateau National Park.[3] In 2013 the foundation launched a programme to breed Scottish wildcats, with plans to create a breeding centre on the island of Càrna, off the west coast of Scotland.[4]

References

  1. ↑ The John Aspinall Foundation joins campaign against lifting Chinese ban on tiger parts
  2. ↑ Lesio-Louna and Mpassa
  3. ↑ Primate-Jobs: Gorilla reintroduction manager - The John Aspinall Foundation
  4. ↑ "Kent Aspinall Foundation sets up wildcat breeding base". BBC News. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  • The Aspinall Foundation website
  • Charity Commission. The Aspinall Foundation, registered charity no. 326567.
  • BBC Article on the Gabon Gorilla sanctuary
  • BBC Article on the foundation's work in Congo
  • Daily Mail article
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