Peter Halliday comes to Gorilla Haven

We believe three important factors are necessary for Gorilla Haven (indeed any good idea) to transform an idea into reality. These are PASSION, RESOURCES and EXPERTISE. A lot of people talk about doing something, but it seldom gets done if one of these factors is missing. We're very fortunate to have all three. I represent the passion and am the driving force behind Gorilla Haven. The fact my best friend and husband, Steuart, is an extremely talented and successful businessman not only makes me very lucky, but also provides the resources to fund and now share this passion and commitment. And since we are well aware no one would send gorillas to Jane or Steuart Dewar just because we loved them and could afford to take care of them, we knew we needed the full time efforts and commitment of a well-respected expert, which we now have!

Gorilla Haven announces the arrival of Peter Halliday of Canterbury, England, who has been hired as our Project Manager and Lead Gorilla Keeper. Peter's responsibilities will include heading up the design and construction of our facilities, as GH continues towards our goal of housing gorillas by the end of 2000. Once gorillas are here, he'll be in charge of their daily routines and all the husbandry issues, making sure all gorillas receive the best in care and attention. Although we've had résumés from some impressive people wanting to work for GH, we believe we have hired one of the world's BEST, in many ways … Here's why:

Peter Halliday worked for 25 years as a gorilla keeper (lead keeper and later Section Head) at Howletts and Port Lympne, the world's largest and most successful captive gorilla collection. Started at his Canterbury England home by gambler John Aspinall in the 1960's, Howletts and its sister zoo, Port Lympne, have more than 60 gorillas, making it three times larger than any other captive gorilla colony in the world. Although Mr. Aspinall's methods have been questioned by some zoo professionals (like going in with gorillas, including 450 pound silverbacks and treating gorillas as his friends), no one can argue that the breeding and husbandry record of Howletts is second to none. Pete was part of a team that was largely responsible for this success. If you were to name five of the world's most experienced and respected gorilla keepers, Pete's name would surely be on that list.

When I'm asked what I think the best zoo for gorillas is, it's easy to reply "Howletts," which is almost a religious experience for anyone who loves gorillas as much as I do. Howletts is the only place I've ever seen silverbacks playing by themselves in seriously silly games, while their babies and other family members happily play, feed or rest nearby. John Aspinall was one of the first people to recognize the importance of the social lives of gorillas, putting together large family groupings, mimicking life in the wild. Howletts also uses "deep bedding," plenty of fresh browse and a large variety of foods - also trying to make a captive gorilla's life as similar to the wild as possible. But, unlike some hands-off approaches of zoos who believe human-gorilla interactions prohibit a gorilla's natural behavior, Howletts has a strong hands-on approach, whereby the gorillas and their human keepers have mutual respect, fostering cooperation and healthy and positive relationships between keeper and kept. Howletts' amazing success clearly illustrates that positive and healthy interactions between gorillas and their keepers not only improves the gorillas' quality of life, but it also seems to encourage "natural" gorilla behaviors.

During the 1960's and 1970's, while most zoos housed gorillas alone or in pairs, for fear of aggression, gambler Aspinall let his instincts and common sense tell him gorillas need to be in large family groups, and indeed, given the chance, will thrive peacefully. Aspinall was also one of the first to insist that gorilla mothers be given every opportunity to raise their own babies in the large family unit, at a time when other zoos routinely isolated new mothers or took newborn gorillas to be raised by humans, not trusting the gorillas to know what to do. Although Gorilla Haven won't be breeding gorillas, Howletts is a major inspiration behind our philosophy, in which the welfare of gorillas as individuals, is at the top of our priority list.

We've known Pete since the early 1990's and like many other gorilla keepers, over the years he's seen and heard us talk about how we would try to do something to make a difference in the lives of gorillas. Timing and fate both coincided to make our lives entwine, and having Pete on board as our Project Manager and Lead Gorilla Keeper is a coup of which we are very proud. We had hoped Pete would start work in January 1999, but getting his work permit and visa from US immigrations delayed us more than we anticipated, so he just arrived in the USA on 19 March 1999. After getting settled in his new home, The Gatehouse (on the GH property), Pete's first order of business will be to finish details on the design of the facilities, which will be extremely flexible, to accommodate the variety of gorillas we will eventually house. Construction should begin in the summer of 1999, and we're still hoping by the end of 2000 we'll have Phase I of the facilities ready to house gorillas.

While Peter works for Gorilla Haven, we hope to be able to offer his expertise and experience to other zoos and groups concerned with the welfare of gorillas around the world. Peter just received his Masters Degree in Conservation Biology (with distinction, no less - see details in the letters of recommendations), making his academic record equally impressive to his hands-on experience. Peter began working for John Aspinall when he was very young and Howletts' collection was brand new. Like a pioneer, Peter had to create something that had never been done before (putting large gorilla groups together), and his record of achievement is remarkable. There is no other concept or project like Gorilla Haven any place in the world, so once again Peter will be a pioneer, using his enthusiasm, talents, and this time, well-proven expertise to create what promises to be a very successful and important facility to help captive gorillas everywhere.

This photo was taken by Ian Williams in the early 1980's at Howletts in England. Peter (on the right!) is having an eyelash daintily chewed off my the magnificent 450 pound silverback, Djoum. If you've seen the National Geographic video called "Gorillas" you'll see footage of Djoum doing the same thing to John Aspinall. Djoum, coincidentally, was the first silverback I was allowed to hand-feed. Putting a tiny treat on the pouting lips of this impressive gorilla made a lasting impression on me. Djoum purred his delight at my offering, then strutted around in a wonderful display of his strength and power. Djoum's personality and dignity made him one of Howlett's most beloved silverbacks. Sadly and ironically, Djoum died in April 1997, just about the same time that Peter left Howletts' employ. He was 25 years old, leaving two surviving offspring, Jomie, a silverback now at London's Regent Park Zoo and Juma, a female still residing at Howletts.

[Photo, top right] Silverback DJOUM: This photo of Djoum, taken by his former keeper Keith Lloyd, is from a Howletts Zoo postcard. (See our Photo Gallery under Artwork by Talented Gorilla Keepers for more of Keith's handiwork).

[Photo, center left] Peter Halliday and silverback KIJO. This is another photo by Keith Lloyd.

[Photo, bottom left] Peter Halliday at Gorilla Haven. Peter Halliday on his first visit to Gorilla Haven in 1997 - already looking like he belongs in the North Georgia Mountains! Photo by Steuart Dewar.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PETER HALLIDAY ... Letters of Recommendation:

In March 1997 Pete decided it was time to move on from Howletts. He returned to school where he received his Masters Degree MSc (with distinction) in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent, in Canterbury, England. In January 1999, we received the following letter from Dr. Richard Griffiths, the MSc Conservation Biology Programme Convenor, Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology (DICE).

Peter Halliday accepts Maurice Swingland prize from Sir Ghillian Prance, FRS. Photo courtesy of DICE.

The prize is judged on the basis of the following criteria:
(1) Marks of coursework and of dissertation, taking into account difficulties and challenges faced in fieldwork and/or laboratory techniques.
(2) Contribution of the period as a Master's student to personal development and progress.
(3) Contribution of the student to the general well-being of the class and of DICE.

The 1997/8 award was conferred at the DICE annual lecture by Sir Gillian Prance FRS. Professor Nigel Leader-Williams, director of research at DICE, introduced the award with the following words: 'Peter Halliday came to DICE from Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks. He had some 25 years of practical experience in the management of zoo populations of primates, with some 20 years as Head Gorilla Keeper, before he decided that he needed more formal academic qualifications than his current four O-levels. For someone who had never seen the inside of an A-level or a University lecture hall, he made considerable progress through the coursework part of the Msc in Conservation Biology. His piece de resistance was a self-designed and independently executed dissertation on the distribution of small mammals at the Canterbury Environmental Education Centre, which should be used as a model by future DICE students. Peter is soon off to new pastures in the USA, where he will design and establish a new captive [...] facility for lowland gorillas, but he is here in person to receive his prize'.

Peter Halliday was awarded the Maurice Swingland Prize in 1998 by the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE). The prize is awarded to the best Master's student taught by DICE in its postgraduate programmes involving coursework and dissertation.

John Aspinall, founder Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, continues to be supportive and in December 1998 he wrote this letter:

Dr. J. Bryan Carroll, Operations Manager of the Bristol Zoo Gardens wrote in December 1998:

Peter Halliday worked with our gorilla colonies for 25 years, the last [20] of which he was Head of Section.

The colonies thrived under his guidance and the knowledge he has accumulated from experience is probably unequaled. He was reliable, dependable and honest, and an expert in the complicated chess game of looking after several families of gorillas at the same time.

Any organization that has ambitions to protect and breed gorillas on a grand scale would surely need his help.

From 1989 to 1995 I was Chairman of the British Isles Gorilla Programme on behalf of the Primate Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) of the Federation of Zoos of Great Britain and Ireland.

In the capacity I invited Peter Halliday of Howletts Zoo Park to join the Primate Taxon Advisory Group in order for him to contribute to that forum on gorillas as well as other primates. Regrettably, he was not given institutional support by Howletts Zoo so could not accept in an official capacity. Peter did, however, attend meetings when he could at his own expense, and thus we were able to get some benefit from his extensive knowledge and experience.

Howletts, together with its sister zoo in Port Lympne, have by far the largest collection of gorillas in the world. Peter Halliday was responsible for this collection and the steady expansion of its numbers until 1997. Howletts is recognized internationally for the excellent breeding results, standards of care and housing and advances in husbandry techniques that have been achieved under Peter's management. It was always greatly regretted by the Primate TAG that Peter was unable to participate officially. Had he been able to do so, the British Isles Gorilla Group would have been much more effective in its work.

Gorilla Haven Staff and Consultants:

Gorilla Haven Hires Top Gorilla Expert!

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PETER HALLIDAY ... Letters of Recommendation: