What is the Aspinall Foundation?
An internationally renowned animal conservation charity that partners with Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks in Kent.
The Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animals Parks in Kent are home to some scarce and endangered animals providing people with the opportunity to see animals that many would not otherwise encounter. These parks are more than zoos and are committed to conserving many endangered species through captive breeding, education and reintroduction of these animals back to the wild and countries they come from.
John Aspinall started collecting and breeding gorillas in the early 1970s at the Howlett’s and Port Lympne Animal Parks. From the beginning, he envisioned their reintroduction to the wild – today, this vision is being carried out by his son, Damian Aspinall the current chairman of the Aspinall Foundation.
The Aspinall Foundation today focuses on breeding, nurturing and releasing animals from the wildlife parks in Kent back into the wild and together with other collections from Europe plus working in situ in Congo, Gabon and Java, they have released eight black rhino, 180 primates, 11 European bison and over 70 western lowland gorillas back to the wild.
Aspinall and The Aspinall and DCM surfaces relationship started as an initial sponsorship born out of common interest, love of animals and similar values together with the mutual understanding of providing sponsorship and being able to see exactly what the finances provided. DCM surfaces now provides a monthly sponsorship towards a specific project team within South Africa. The support provided allows the South African Aspinall project team to plan, execute and provide much-needed resources to particular projects. DCM can see precisely where their resources are being used by providing much-needed funds directly to this particular charity. In turn, the Aspinall Foundation can plan ahead and rely on a consistent source of funds. The sponsorship from DCM allows for animal rescue and translocation but has also helped with many projects, such as the camera trap project to monitor leopards on a farm in the Eastern Cape, the provision of much-needed air support during anti-poaching operations and the manufacturing of cheetah crates.
This month will celebrate the one-year partnership of Aspinall and DCM. Over 100 animals have been rescued from snares and translocated to safer areas while multiple projects have been supported. The funds have allowed the Aspinall team to respond to all animal emergencies, providing Government Departments with alternatives to culling problematic animals and re-introducing animals into reserves where they have not lived for many years.
How can you help?
Visit the Aspinall Foundation, and watch this space for specific fundraising opportunities.