Damian Aspinall grew up with exotic animals all around. His father, John Aspinall, was the creator of Howletts Wild Animal Park, built in 1957. Damian grew up there. The 700 ha estate is located in Kent, England, and is home to a wide variety of exotic animals.
Damian practically got raised by a surrogate mother gorilla. He remembers getting stuck in a tree and the gorilla coming, putting him on its back and going back down. The gorilla even comforted him, wiping away his tears. But even such a strong connection with animals could not have prepared Damian for what he would face with the gorillas several years later.
