Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, accessible from Maidstone, aims to go one step further than other zoos by making conservation Number One.
Set in 300 acres of land, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park is more than just a fun day out from Maidstone for the family.
It is also an eco-conscious experience for those who care about the conservation or rare and exotic animals.
The zoo, easily accessible from the Maidstone area, brings a taste of the exotic African Savannah to Kent.
The zoos main objectives include:
- Halting the extinction of rare and endangered species.
- Re-introducing animals back to the wild where possible
- To be world leaders in breeding rare animals
With all this in mind, Port Lympne Zoo ensures visitors have a fun and educational day out to remember.
Conservation is number one priority at both Port Lympne and its sister zoo Howletts, both run by the John Aspinall Foundation.
Achievements at the zoos include:
- Expanding a rare black rhino herd, with over 27 births.
- Reaching the global forefront of breeding the rare and endangered clouded leopard.
- Breeding fishing cats, lynx, snow leopards and rare ocelots
- Breeding tigers including Siberian tigers, who number only 3000 to 4000 tigers in the wild
- A breeding pack of the extremely rare Barbary lions, which are now extinct in the wild
The zoos are not just fun for young visitors, they are also educational.
Children from Maidstone and the whole of the South East have the chance to experience many exotic animals, not just Lions andTigers, in a habitat designed to be as close to it would be in the wild as possible.
Attractions at the park, near Hythe, include:
- Lions in a glass-fronted enclosure
- The world’s largest breeding herd of Black Rhino outside Africa
- Park Hopper Tours
- A primate enclosure
- The world’s largest family gorilla house
- Port Lympne mansion
- A conservatory restaurant
As well as a range of exotic animals and educational tools, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park also offers a bit of history for those on a day trip from Maidstone.
Set on land surrounding the last historic house to be built in the 20th Century, the Port Lympne zoo experience has a unique feel.
Port Lympne Mansion is open to the public, with15.5 acre gardens that were originally cut out of the old sea cliffs overlooking the English Channel.
For information call 01303 264 647 between 9am and 5pm seven days a week. The park, easily accessible from Maidstone and surrounding areas, is open every day, except Christmas, from 10am.
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