The Aspinall Foundation
A British wildlife-conservation charity focused on protecting endangered species and returning captive animals to suitable wild habitats.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Aspinall Foundation is a British wildlife-conservation charity established in 1984 by casino owner and conservationist John Aspinall. Formerly known as the John Aspinall Foundation, it developed from the conservation work associated with Aspinall’s two privately operated wildlife parks in Kent, Howletts and Port Lympne. The organisation combines habitat protection, species recovery, animal rescue, captive breeding and the reintroduction of animals into the wild. A central feature of the foundation’s model is the attempt to move animals born or rehabilitated in captivity into protected natural environments. Its work has included gorillas, elephants, cheetahs, wildcats, primates, greater bamboo lemurs and other endangered species. In Gabon, the foundation has acquired or manages approximately one million acres of land and has used that landscape for gorilla conservation and reintroduction. In 2002, it reported the first release into the wild of young gorillas born in captivity. By 2014, the organisation stated that more than 50 gorillas had been reintroduced since 1996. The foundation has also worked to protect animals affected by the illegal wildlife trade. Several of the gorillas released in Gabon had been orphaned through the bushmeat trade and subsequently entered the illegal pet market before being rescued. Its Javan Primate Project, launched in 2012, has released more than 135 primates, including Javan langurs, moloch gibbons and grizzled leaf monkeys, into protected sites in Java. The animals have included individuals rescued from the illegal pet trade as well as animals rewilded from the foundation’s UK parks. Species-specific work has included long-term efforts for the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur. Beginning in or around 2008, the foundation supported conservation activity that contributed to a reported increase in the estimated population from roughly 100 animals in 2009 to approximately 1,000. The species was subsequently removed from the list of the world’s 25 most threatened primates. Other programmes have included European wildcat breeding and plans connected with the Scottish island of Càrna, as well as the transfer of captive-bred cheetahs from the United Kingdom to South Africa in 2020. The foundation has undertaken emergency wildlife-rescue operations as well as planned reintroductions. In 2019, it joined an international group that removed elephants, giraffes, African buffalo and wildebeest from Blaauwbosch in South Africa following prolonged drought and alleged neglect at a poorly managed reserve. In February 2020, two male cheetahs born at Port Lympne were released into a protected area near Cape Town, in what the foundation described as the first transfer of captive-bred cheetahs from the United Kingdom for rewilding in South Africa. The organisation has been closely associated with the Aspinall family. Damian Aspinall, John Aspinall’s son, became a prominent public representative and chairman, while Freya Aspinall has helped promote the charity through social media and has been associated with its United States affiliate. The foundation’s approach has attracted substantial public attention, particularly through films and online footage of released gorillas such as Kwibi. It has also generated debate among conservation scientists and public authorities over the risks, welfare implications and ecological value of moving zoo-born animals into the wild. Governance and financial-management concerns became a major issue in the early 2020s. Reports about payments to people and businesses connected with trustees led the Charity Commission for England and Wales to open a statutory inquiry in March 2021. The commission-related developments, including reported trustee departures and Damian Aspinall’s requested withdrawal from the chairmanship and trusteeship in 2022, created uncertainty about the foundation’s leadership structure. The organisation nevertheless remained active in wildlife conservation and rewilding. In 2020, it reported receiving £1.5 million from corporate and private donors.
History
The Aspinall Foundation was created in 1984 by John Aspinall, a British casino owner whose private wildlife parks became associated with an unusually interventionist approach to conservation. The foundation later operated under its present name after previously being known as the John Aspinall Foundation. Its work grew around the protection of endangered species, the rescue of animals affected by the illegal wildlife trade and the return of captive animals to natural or semi-natural environments. Gorilla conservation became one of the organisation’s best-known activities. In Gabon, the foundation developed a large protected landholding, reported at approximately one million acres, and used it as a base for conservation and reintroduction work. In 2002, it reported the first release of young captive-born gorillas into the wild. The programme included gorillas orphaned through the bushmeat trade and later trafficked through the illegal pet market. By 2014, the foundation said that more than 50 gorillas had been returned to the wild since 1996. The public profile of this work increased after footage of Damian Aspinall locating Kwibi, a gorilla released in Gabon in 2005, attracted a large online audience in 2010. The charity’s activities broadened during the 2000s and 2010s. It opposed proposals to relax restrictions on tiger-product trade in 2007 and supported conservation of the greater bamboo lemur from approximately 2008. The estimated number of greater bamboo lemurs rose from around 100 in 2009 to about 1,000, and the species was subsequently removed from a list of the 25 most threatened primates. In 2012, the foundation launched the Javan Primate Project, which later reported more than 135 releases of Javan langurs, moloch gibbons and grizzled leaf monkeys into protected areas in Java. In 2013, it began a European wildcat breeding programme and explored the creation of a breeding centre on Càrna, an island off Scotland’s west coast. The foundation also carried out multi-species rescue and rewilding operations. In 2019, it participated in the removal of 11 elephants, four giraffes, 19 African buffalo and 29 wildebeest from Blaauwbosch in South Africa after drought and alleged neglect at the reserve. In 2020, two male cheetahs born at Port Lympne were transported from the United Kingdom and released near Cape Town. The organisation described this as the first transfer of captive-bred cheetahs from Britain for rewilding in South Africa. The rewilding model has not been universally accepted. Conservationists have questioned whether zoo-born animals possess the skills needed to survive independently, and critics have pointed to deaths among some released gorillas. Concerns have included the effects of human habituation, conflict with established wild groups, disease, unfamiliar environments and the dangers of transport. The planned relocation of 13 captive-born elephants to Kenya also prompted questions about journey stress, climate, food, predators, water quality and potential conflict with local communities. The foundation has defended its work by citing its long experience with rewilding. Governance became a separate area of controversy. Between 2019 and 2020, the foundation reportedly paid £150,158 to Victoria Aspinall, the chairman’s wife, for interior-design services. It also reportedly paid £124,231 for accountancy work to a firm connected with another trustee, while a foundation-owned mansion was rented to Damian Aspinall at changing rates. These reported related-party arrangements led the Charity Commission for England and Wales to open a statutory inquiry in March 2021. In 2022, following reported financial irregularities, Damian Aspinall was asked to stand down as chairman and trustee, and Robin Birley and Ben Goldsmith resigned as trustees. The foundation’s leadership after those changes is not established by the supplied reference material. The charity has also used public relations and advocacy to expand awareness of conservation. Freya Aspinall has promoted the organisation through social media and has been associated with its United States affiliate. In January 2021, the foundation hired Carrie Johnson as communications director, a decision that drew attention because the organisation had previously sought government support connected with acquiring a wildlife reserve in South Africa. The foundation reported £1.5 million in corporate and private donations in 2020.
- 2022
Trustee and chairmanship changes
[1]Reported financial irregularities preceded Damian Aspinall’s requested departure and resignations by other trustees.
- 2021
Statutory governance inquiry
[1]The Charity Commission opened an inquiry into governance and financial management.
- 2020
Cheetah rewilding transfer
[1]Two captive-bred cheetahs were sent from the United Kingdom to South Africa for release.
- 2019
Blaauwbosch wildlife rescue
[1]The foundation helped relocate multiple species from a drought-affected South African reserve.
- 2013
European wildcat breeding programme launched
[1]The foundation began a European wildcat breeding programme and considered a breeding centre on Càrna.
- 2012
Javan Primate Project launched
[1]A programme began to release rescued and rewilded primates in protected areas of Java.
- 2008
Greater bamboo lemur conservation expands
[1]The foundation began spearheading conservation work for the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur.
- 2007
Tiger-trade advocacy
[1]The foundation publicly opposed proposals to relax rules on trade in tiger products.
- 2002
Captive-born gorillas reintroduced in Gabon
[1]The foundation reported the first release in Gabon of young gorillas born in captivity.
- 1984
Foundation established
[1]John Aspinall established the organisation to support wildlife conservation.
Products and positioning
A high-profile conservation charity positioned around practical species recovery, habitat acquisition and the rewilding of captive-born or rescued animals. Its distinctive emphasis is on returning animals to protected landscapes rather than limiting conservation to managed collections, although this strategy has also been the subject of scientific, welfare and regulatory criticism.
Species conservation and rewilding · 1996
Gabon Gorilla Conservation Programme
A long-running programme protecting gorillas and returning rescued or captive-born animals to protected areas in Gabon. The work has involved animals affected by the bushmeat and illegal pet trades, habitat protection and post-release monitoring. The foundation has reported more than 50 gorilla reintroductions since 1996.
Primate rescue and reintroduction · 2012
Javan Primate Project
A programme launched in 2012 to release rescued and rewilded primates into protected locations in Java. Species mentioned in connection with the project include Javan langurs, moloch gibbons and grizzled leaf monkeys. The foundation has reported more than 135 releases under the programme.
Endangered-species conservation · 2008
Greater Bamboo Lemur Conservation
Conservation work focused on the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur. The foundation has been associated with efforts credited with helping raise the estimated population from approximately 100 individuals in 2009 to around 1,000, contributing to the species’ removal from a list of the world’s 25 most threatened primates.
Captive breeding and species recovery · 2013
European Wildcat Breeding Programme
A programme begun in 2013 to breed European wildcats for conservation purposes. The foundation also considered developing a breeding centre on Càrna, an island off Scotland’s west coast, as part of its recovery strategy.
Animal reintroduction · 2020
South African Cheetah Rewilding
A rewilding initiative that transferred two male cheetahs born at Port Lympne from the United Kingdom to a protected area near Cape Town. The 2020 release was presented as the first movement of captive-bred cheetahs from the UK for rewilding in South Africa.
Controversies
2022
Leadership departures following financial irregularities
Reported financial irregularities led to Damian Aspinall being asked to stand down as chairman and trustee. Robin Birley and Ben Goldsmith also resigned as trustees.
2022
Questions over captive-born elephant rewilding
Experts questioned plans to transport 13 captive-born elephants to Kenya, citing journey stress, unfamiliar conditions, food and water, predators, disease and possible conflict with people. The foundation defended the plan by referring to its long history of rewilding.
2021
Related-party payments and governance inquiry
Reports concerning payments to Victoria Aspinall for interior-design services, accountancy work connected with a trustee, and the rental of a foundation-owned mansion to Damian Aspinall prompted the Charity Commission for England and Wales to open a statutory inquiry into governance and financial management.
2021
Criticism of Kenya elephant relocation plans
Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife criticized the foundation for not notifying it about plans to rehome 13 elephants in Kenya. The dispute formed part of wider concerns about animal welfare, regulatory coordination and the practical risks of long-distance rewilding.
2014
Deaths among reintroduced gorillas
Reports that at least five members of a group of zoo-born silverback gorillas died after release in Gabon led to criticism of the foundation’s reintroduction model. Damian Aspinall attributed the deaths to an attack by one gorilla and defended the wider record of animals that survived.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Kwibi public-awareness campaign
International
Video footage of Damian Aspinall tracking Kwibi, a gorilla released in Gabon, became widely viewed online and increased public awareness of the foundation’s rewilding work.
Outcome. The footage generated substantial public exposure for the foundation’s conservation approach.
- 2007Tiger-trade opposition
China · International
The foundation publicly campaigned against proposals to relax restrictions on trade in products made from tigers.
Brand decisions
2022
Plan relocation of captive-born elephants to KenyaStrategyBackground
The foundation aimed to rehome 13 elephants born in captivity and release them into a Kenyan wild setting.
Action taken
It announced plans to transport the elephants to Kenya for release.
Aftermath
Experts and Kenyan authorities raised concerns about animal welfare, logistics, ecological suitability, regulatory notification and human-wildlife conflict.
2022
Change leadership after governance concernsStrategyBackground
Reported financial irregularities followed a Charity Commission inquiry into the foundation’s governance and related-party transactions.
Action taken
Damian Aspinall was asked to stand down as chairman and trustee, while Robin Birley and Ben Goldsmith resigned as trustees.
Aftermath
The supplied material does not establish the foundation’s subsequent permanent leadership structure.
2021
Hire Carrie Johnson as communications directorOtherBackground
The appointment followed the foundation’s efforts to obtain government support connected with acquiring a wildlife reserve in South Africa.
Action taken
The foundation hired Carrie Johnson to lead communications.
Aftermath
The appointment attracted public scrutiny because of Carrie Johnson’s relationship to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the foundation’s lobbying activity.
2020
Send captive-bred cheetahs to South AfricaProduct launchBackground
The foundation sought to extend its captive-to-wild model beyond primates and support cheetah conservation in South Africa.
Action taken
It transported two male cheetahs born at Port Lympne and released them near Cape Town.
Aftermath
The foundation described the action as the first transfer of captive-bred cheetahs from the United Kingdom for rewilding in South Africa.
Sources1 sources
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