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TV star's baby handed to gorillas
BBC NEWS: ^ | 2003/11/10 | Unsigned

Posted on 11/10/2003 3:22:29 PM PST by aculeus

Television presenter Donna Air and her zoo-owner boyfriend Damian Aspinall intend to place their daughter in the care of a gorilla.

The couple plan to put Freya, who was born in September, in the gorilla enclosure at Howletts Zoo near Canterbury, Kent.

They will then let her be carried off by the female of the group.

Neither parent has any qualms about letting their daughter be taken off despite five keepers being killed by animals at Howletts and its sister park, Port Lympne, since 1980.

Mr Aspinall told the Evening Standard: "It is a ritual. I'll probably give her to the dominant female who will take her off and introduce her to the others."

The multi-millionaire said his two other daughters, Clary, 11, and Tansy, 14, had also been introduced to the gorillas at the zoo in the same way.

Both he and Miss Air approve of the plan and do not believe their daughter will be in any danger.

He said: "Why would I not trust them? I know them, I grew up with them. They are my friends."

Mr Aspinall took over running Howletts when his father, who encouraged close contact between animals and their keepers, died.

Since 1980 three keepers have been killed by tigers and two crushed to death by elephants at the two zoos.

But gorillas are known for their gentle treatment of babies and children.

Miss Air and Mr Aspinall have been together for more than two years and recently made a documentary together about releasing gorillas into the wild in Africa.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: animalrightswackos; badparents; childendangerment; darwinaward; hollywood; leftwingnuts
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To: aculeus
"It is a ritual.

It certainly sounds like one.

61 posted on 11/10/2003 5:34:15 PM PST by Paul Atreides (Is it really so difficult to post the entire article?)
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To: BartMan1; Nailbiter
Bears, tigers, apes....
62 posted on 11/10/2003 5:36:07 PM PST by IncPen
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To: aculeus
But gorillas are known for their gentle treatment of babies and children.

They're probably right, gorillas are vegetarian, they aren't like tigers or human beings, they don't have a killer instinct. Although I would never do it myself, turning your daughter over to a gorilla is probably a lot less flakey than turning her over to an 'Undocumented Worker' -- which a lot of liberals in California don't hesitate to do as they skip off to their six-figure jobs.

63 posted on 11/10/2003 5:42:01 PM PST by JoeSchem
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To: Dog
Lock these two up......and never allow them to breed again.

Since they are young enough to be of breeding age, they are only proving what I have spouted for years:

We have gone out of our way to breed survival and good sense OUT of our offspring for the last 2 generations.

Like my Dad used to say: I have lived long enough....
64 posted on 11/10/2003 5:49:56 PM PST by ridesthemiles (ridesthemiles)
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To: aculeus
Now this would be a "ritual"......"I'll probably give my wife to the dominant male who will take her off and introduce her to the others." YIKES!
65 posted on 11/10/2003 5:56:37 PM PST by steelwheels
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To: aculeus
Another stupid stunt for the cameras:

66 posted on 11/10/2003 6:01:53 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: aculeus
It might not be so bad...except if they go to New York City....


67 posted on 11/10/2003 6:07:28 PM PST by Dallas59
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To: hellinahandcart
That girl needs a slip.

Or even just some underwear.

Nope.

68 posted on 11/10/2003 6:30:24 PM PST by null and void
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To: aculeus
Both he and Miss Air approve of the plan and do not believe their daughter will be in any danger.

Remember this thread not too long ago:

A self-taught bear expert who once called Alaska's brown bears harmless was one of two people fatally mauled in a bear attack in the Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Another accident waiting to happen?

69 posted on 11/10/2003 6:39:53 PM PST by paws_and_whiskers
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To: arasina
Problem is - that type usually sues.
70 posted on 11/10/2003 6:56:00 PM PST by Twinkie
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To: aculeus
Television presenter Donna Air

Just how many television presenters do they have over their. Every time I read about a British television star they're almost always described as a "television presenter."

71 posted on 11/10/2003 7:14:51 PM PST by MattAMiller
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To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; Timesink; dubyaismypresident; Grani; coug97; ...
You have got to be kidding!!!

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

72 posted on 11/10/2003 7:29:30 PM PST by mhking
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To: Ramius
Look at it as chlorine for the gene pool.

Thanks Raimus... I thought no one here believed in evolution any longer.

73 posted on 11/10/2003 7:30:55 PM PST by ElectricRook (In some parts of the world, Cowboys are heros, and terrorists are villans.)
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To: ElectricRook
I thought no one here believed in evolution any longer.

Within species? Of course... :-)

Beyond that... dunno. don't care. Wasn't there. I figure I'll find out soon enough. :-)

74 posted on 11/10/2003 7:53:23 PM PST by Ramius
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To: weegee
wow! very nice 'assets' on 'Baby' there..
75 posted on 11/10/2003 8:59:01 PM PST by wafflehouse (the hell you say!)
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To: stylin19a
What's the story on this? I missed it.
76 posted on 11/10/2003 9:33:43 PM PST by 3catsanadog (When anything goes, everything does.)
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To: aculeus
I think I might prefer a gorilla over these "nuts" to take care of a baby.
77 posted on 11/10/2003 9:37:30 PM PST by lonestar (Don't mess with Texas)
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To: aculeus
These people should be euthanized!
78 posted on 11/10/2003 9:45:54 PM PST by jslade
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To: 3catsanadog
On 10/08/03, Timoty Treadwell, a self-taught bear expert who once called Alaska's brown bears harmless was one of two people fatally mauled in a bear attack in the Katmai National Park and Preserve.
79 posted on 11/10/2003 11:49:43 PM PST by stylin19a (is it vietnam yet ?)
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