He Introduces Wife To His Gorillas, No One Could Expect What Happened Next

Victoria knew that when she married Damian Aspinall, she had to deal with is his passion for animals. In fact, he owns two zoos and has raised gorillas for over a decade now. She knows that Damian is well-acquainted with dangerous and exotic animals, but she didn’t expect him to bring her to meet them! Damian took Vitoria to meet the gorillas and it looks like things did not go exactly as it was supposed to be. Keep on reading to learn more!

An Unusual Childhood

Damian Aspinall is unlike any other kids. He grew up surrounded by a variety of exotic animals in their 700-acre estate in Kent, England. His father John Aspinall is the founder of the Howletts Wild Animal Park, which was launched in 1957. It looks like Damian was raised by a gorilla mother.

They Looked Out For Him

When Damian was a kid, he once got stuck in a tree. One of the gorillas came to the rescue by placing him on her back and wiped his tears away. She comforted him and took him to safety. Now, even if Damian grew up with these gorillas, no one knew something would happen until now when he came face to face with the gorillas.

The Aspinall Foundation

John Aspinall created the Aspinall Foundation which is a charity organization that promotes conservation of wildlife. It is through this foundation that Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park came to be. All proceeds of this charity are dedicated to these two zoos that breed rare tigers and gorillas and other endangered animals.

Inheriting The Organization

When Damian’s father died, he succeeded to become the next chairman of the organization that runs a project for gorillas with no family. The project reintroduces the orphaned gorillas into the wild specifically in Plateau Bateke Nation Park in Gabon. When he succeeded his father, Damian became capable of enacting his plans he had been dreaming about.

Better Than Humans

When Damian was young he was not used to bringing friends over in his house. Aside from the fact that their house is full of dangerous creatures, he felt more connected with animals than with humans. For him, animals will never betray him as humans can. He said there is honesty when with the animals. Also, he preferred the company of tigers in the garden than going to playdates, he told the Daily Mail.

Furry Friends

Damian had “an extraordinarily blessed childhood.” He said he got some super 8 films of him back in the ’60s where he was playing with tigers and bison. They were running around the trees together with a pack of wolves. He remembered that he and his animal friends once disturbed a colony of wasps accidentally that sent them running as fast as they can into the pond where they had to dive to get away from the angry insects. That was quite a story!

Making His Own Fortune

Even if Damian Aspinall may seem to be worth millions and millions of dollars, he never got to hold any of that amount physically. His father never gave him anything. So, he had to work his way up through real estate. When his father died, there was no money left to manage the zoos. How will Damian finance the family business in such case?

A Burning Desire

The cost to run the business is £4M annually and when his father died, he did not leave them a single cent in the bank. It is really costly to run the family business that is why some members of the family are not interested in getting involved. Damian’s brother and sister are not like him who loves animals, so he was the only one who was compelled to work with the animals. He decided to take over his father’s company.

Raising Gorillas

When Damian was young, he helped raised a couple of baby gorillas and treated them like his own kids. There were two male gorillas named Ima and Djalta and these two were to be moved back into protected habitat in the wild. For Damian, saving the gorillas would give them a chance to be happy just like humans have the right to happiness. Allowing these creatures to live happily allows coexistence. Despite the efforts, it turns out that there are other things meant for Damian.

His Family

Damian was previously married to Louise Elizabeth Julia Sebag-Montefiore for 15 years before he got married again to Victoria. He and Louise Elizabeth had 2 daughters together. The 30-year old Tansy Aspinall and 27-year old Clary Aspinall. After his split with his first wife, he had a long-time girlfriend named Donna Air whom he had another daughter, 16-year old Freya Aspinall.

Like Their Own Children

Damian Aspinall married Victoria Fisher on August 2016 in Tuscany, Italy. Victoria, a former Burberry employee joked that she knew she will be marrying the animals too when she married Damian. She did not mind because she also loves animals. According to her, she loved the wolves like they were her own kids and one of them named “kago” even sleeps with them in their bed. Let us take a look at the beautiful story of how Damian and Victoria met each other.

Through Mutual Friends

Victoria met Damian at a dinner party and she had no idea who he was. She agreed to go out on a date with him even if she didn’t know him yet. He told Victoria his stories about Howletts, Victoria Googled it and she couldn’t believe that such things existed. Victoria also said that she would not generally agree to such a setup and Damian also has the same thing in mind. When Damian finally brought Vitoria to meet the gorillas it was evident.

Looking For Djalta and Ima

Ima and Djalta were reintroduced to the wild 10 years ago. Damian wanted to see them again and how they were doing when they were released into the protected habitat. He launched several expeditions to look for the gorillas they raised and let go of in the wild. This time, the result of the expedition was quite unique…

A Unique Trip

Damian brought his new wife Victoria with him on this trip. How Victoria could have felt having known that she will be meeting real gorillas in the flesh is something we cannot imagine. Neither Damian or Victoria knew what was in store for them. Let us see what happened on this trip!

Missing His Gorilla Friends

Ima and Djalta were taken care of Damian in Howletts Animal Park. They grew close to him and formed a unique bond with him. Damian wanted to know if the gorillas still remember him and see how they would react when they see him after they have been in the wild for a while. The trips have risks that come with it.

A Major Risk Involved

Damian is well-aware of how dangerous fully grown gorillas can be and he would never want to put his new wife in a dangerous situation. He was not sure how the gorillas would react in meeting someone new. The first thing that he needed to do was to find the gorillas in the huge wild park. So, before he can find the answers to his thoughts, he needs to find the creatures first.

Going To Gabon

Damian and Victoria headed to Gabon to start their search in finding Ima and Djalta together with a team of experts. The couple had to set aside their fears even if Damian himself is really nervous as to how the gorillas would react to Victoria’s presence. They still pursued the plan despite their reservations.

Difficult Terrain

The entire team went to Gabon from the United Kingdom to locate Ima and Djalta. Before locating the gorillas they had to cross difficult terrain and take a boat ride across the river to reach the destination where Ima and Djalta are located.

Off They Go

They had to expect that accidents are possible and may be inevitable along the way, but they still went on with the journey. What they did not expect is how difficult it is to reach the location of the gorillas.

The Quest For The Gorillas

One of the ways to find the gorillas is to locate them using the GPS locators that were luckily attached to them before they were released to the wild. But, these GPS locators are not really accurate in giving the exact location because it only gives the general location.

New Technological Innovations

The jungle where Ima and Djalta were released to was really dense and although they are still monitored, it is not easy to get their exact location. Damian knows that it is best to get to them slowly so as not to startle them. After spending many hours in the jungle, the team almost gave up on searching for Ima and Djalta. The good thing is that they brought a gadget with them that will make it easier for the whole team to find the gorillas.

Using Drones

Since the GPS locators cannot pinpoint the exact location of the gorillas, what the team used is a top-of-the-line drone with cameras attached and connected to Damian’s smartphone. Using a bird’s eye view, Damian was surveying the areas and finally determined where the pair of gorillas are located. After locating the creatures, Damian was not ready to meet them and hoped that their reunion would not be difficult.

Is It A Bird

What made the gorillas come out from the bushes is their curiosity to find the flying objects hovering above them. We would probably be as curious as them if we were in their place. The gorillas were careful when they came out because they were not sure if the thing above them were predators or not, and it got them a bit confused. The gorillas did not display aggressive or violent behaviors and Damian found them beside the river bank. The team was able to approach the animals slowly with their boats.

In The Blink Of An Eye

The gorillas immediately saw them on the boat and they look like they were wondering what was happening right before them. This curiosity may immediately shift in a blink of an eye and Damian and Victoria really knew this well.

At Long Last

Everyone waited nervously as the team went to finally meet the gorillas. They were wondering if the creatures would still remember Damian and if they would be aggressive towards humans since they were out of touch with humans for a long time. The questions were soon answered.

Their Disposition

Gorillas are shy creatures and they usually stay away from humans. They can be provoked easily and if humans are not careful, gorillas can kill them. One must be careful with his or her actions because a little action of yours may be interpreted by the gorillas as an act of aggression and violence which might cause them to retaliate.

What Happens Next

When the team’s boat was approaching the river bank where the gorillas were seen, the retrieved the drone carefully so as not to over stimulate Ima and Djalta or have them catch the flying device. The boat approached the creatures slowly because gorillas are hard-headed and unpredictable. Silence fell as the boat moved closer and closer and careful not to upset the creatures.

How Would They React?

Let us find out now what transpired when Ima and Djalta finally met Damien, the one who raised them. How would they react to meeting Victoria for the first time?

Putting The Plan To Action

Damian decided that he should approach the gorillas because they might still recognize him as the man who raised them even if it had been 14 years that they had not seen each other. He exited the boat into the high-waist river making sure that the sound of the motor is not too loud so as not to startle the gorillas and make them aggressive.

Grunting Noises

The first thing that Damian did was to crouch because he was aware that he should not appear taller than the gorillas because when that happens, they might become aggressive. Now, while Damien was slowly approaching them, they started making noises but they allowed Damian to stay with them for a while. Damien recognized the noises and they started saying something to him. Are the noises good or bad?

Friendly Noises

It looks like they were making noises that exhibit friendliness. The sound is like a gurgle or grunt and Ima and Djalta remembered Damian well. They still remembered him even if it took Damian a while to visit them.

Slow And Steady

Damian felt that since the gorillas remembered him, they were very comfortable in his presence. When Damian felt that it was time for Ima and Djalta to meet Victoria, he was very careful because he did not want to frighten them. Vitoria waded slowly in the water as both gorillas were already calm. Both Ima and Djalta were very comfortable with Damian and so they were relaxed.

Victoria Approaches

As Victoria came nearer, Damian asked her to stop for a moment. Damian was sitting in the riverbank when he gave her that command. He wanted to make sure that the gorillas would not get frightened and react violently to her presence. It is very important to make sure of that.

Slowly But Surely

Damian wanted to be careful because when he first arrived, the Gorillas did not warm up to him right away and with Victoria, he wanted to make sure. Victoria continued to come nearer and sat down slowly at the edge of the river bank. One of the gorillas then released a guttural sound. Damian took this to be the sign that the gorillas are ready to accept her as part of Damian’s family.

Moving Closer

Damian told Victoria to come nearer because the gorillas made the gurgling sound again. This means that they had no plans of attacking her and that it was fine for her to come closer.

Welcome To The Family

The noises that the gorillas made may mean that Victoria was accepted by the gorillas to be part of Damian’s family. This is how Damian saw it, especially when one of the gorillas approached her and nuzzled her face. Ima and Djalta clearly accepted his new wife.

Gentle Nuzzles & Warm Hugs

The two gorillas gently nuzzled and hugged Damian and Victoria. They behaved comfortably with them. When it was time for Damian and Victoria to leave, they headed back to the boat waiting for them in the river. Although they left, the departure did not mean they were abandoning the two creatures.

The Following Day

Damian and Victoria came back to the same area the following day in the hopes that both Ima and Djalta would be around. Fortunately, they did not have to look far since they were at the same spot where the couple left them just the day before. Ima appeared absolutely captivated by Victoria as he rushed over to her and began making the guttural noises.

They Began To Play

Ima hugged Victoria and they began to play. It looked like they really liked each other a lot. What happened to Victoria next was quite a surprise for us, and for Damian as well.

Hat Trick

Ima grabbed Victoria’s hat and inspected it before putting it on his own head. That was something that a normal person would do right? The scene was captured on video and it was uploaded on YouTube. Do you think that people would watch the uploaded videos?

Viral

The video was seen 12 million times and it was really viral. Victoria and Damian probably had no idea that they were becoming even more famous. The video has brought them more publicity to stardom!

Where They Live

Gorillas were only found in African rainforests and they were separated at one point in history. There are eastern and western gorillas now after their split, probably in the Ice Age. These two categories of gorillas are very different from each other now. Normally, gorillas live in the forest and the only time they ever go out is when they are looking for something apart from food. Gorillas can climb up higher than the tree line. There was a recorded gorilla track of 4000 meters high. Can you believe that?

Rapid Decline

For the past 25 years, the western lowland gorilla’s population has gone down by 60%. The shy nature of these gorillas makes it difficult for their exact number to be tracked. Djalta and Ima are a good example. Adding human intervention and some diseases, the population of these creatures has really dropped.

To This Day

Gorillas are often hunted for sport, meat or trophies by poachers. It is why they are endangered. To avoid such incidence, Damian has created a home for the gorillas. In 2013, Ima and Data were transferred to their new home. Today, you will still see them live there.

Gorillas Are Generally Gentle

Gorillas are unique creatures because they have reservations. They are shy with human contact such that they typically leave humans alone or stay away from them as must as possible. This is very rare though.

A Rare Case

Gorillas can be dangerous in situations where human existence is apparent. It is why only experienced professional are allowed to handle them. Like Gorillas, Cheetahs can also become violent when not handled properly. Freya in this photo may look really adorable with this Cheetah but do not ever try to attempt this at home.

Bluff Charge

Gorillas can act violently to protect themselves especially when they are triggered. At times when they feel threatened or surprised, they can become defensive. They can also act violently even when not in danger. The silverback male gorillas charge and shout loud roars, typically. Gorillas are also fast creatures. It is capable of catching anyone anytime and bites the first body part it can grab.

Prince William And Damian

Since Damian Aspinall is quite a famous man for his work in conservation, it is no surprise that he got to meet Prince William. When the prince came across his contribution to taking care of the animals, he decided to go back to the foundation in 2012. He specifically visited the Aspinall Foundation’s rhino conservation.

Becoming An Aspinall

Due to the popularity of the Aspinall family in the UK, Victoria has been featured in various magazines. With their work in conservation, the Aspinalls allow the fans to easily see how the family thrives with the wild animals.

Absolutely Smitten

Damian used to sleep with baby cubs when they were being nursed and prepared to be released to the wild. Can you imagine how Victoria must have felt having a husband such as Damian who has wild animals in their backyard? It is probably not an easy adjustment for Victoria to take but looking at them, they definitely look so much in love with each other.

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

The Aspinall family runs a 4-star hotel called the Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve. It is located in the safari reserve within its amazing landscaped gardens. You can experience waking up at one of the rooms in the Port Lympne where a lion is just nearby staring you down. How cool is that?

Dining Experience

It has an amazing restaurant there. At $300.00 per night in the Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, you get to have a once in a lifetime experience full of memories with your family. Through this, you help save wild animals because proceed of the sale goes to Damian’s organization. Your passes to the safari are included on the price you pay so don’t forget that.

Freya Follows In Her Father’s Footsteps

Freya, the youngest daughter of Damian, enjoys being with the animals. Following in her father’s footsteps, she helps whenever she can. She is currently the youngest aspiring model to be signed by Storm, the same modeling agency of Kate Moss. She is definitely a busy person.

Tansy Also Has A Love For Animals

30-year old Tansy hung out with gorillas when she was younger. She said that from their cottage, she could see the gorillas and the wild animals.

She has photographs of her riding the backs of these animals when she was really young. She said she has always been comfortable around them and never felt any danger or fear. She supports her father’s love for the animals and she felt that she, too, is compelled to help save the endangered species which she already considered as her family. It will not be a surprise if she will, one day, run the family business.

Animals Galore

The Aspinall foundation deals with exotic animals like rhinos, lions, monkeys, and as you can see here, wolves! They just don’t deal with the gorillas because their goal is to prevent extinction. They raise the endangered species in their sanctuary in Kent, England before the animals are released in the wild.

A Joint Effort

It matters for Damian that he is with someone who loves what he loves. When he saw how Victoria loved the animals in the reserve, he knew he had found the love of his life. It is not easy to run a conservation organization, thus, having someone who cares for animals so much like Victoria makes Damian’s job easier.

Good Publicity

To bring the family good publicity, Victoria Aspinall and her family appear in magazines and various interviews. She allows the people to see their private lives with the wild and what it is to transition from normal life to a life filled with wild things. Most of us cannot imagine how to live such a life, so it is always helpful to get these insights.

In Your Wildest Dreams

Last December, a baby leopard named Saba was bottle fed every night by Damian and Victoria before they all go to sleep. To ensure her recovery and for the success of her future life, she was treated like a baby. There were photos of these moments in Victoria’s Instagram page captioned “Nightfeeds for baby Saba last December…the cutest #family”. Imagine these as your usual nightly routine? Isn’t it cool?

Daddy’s Girl

Freya said that her father is her biggest role model and she hopes to be like him when she is older. She is very proud of her father for all the great work he has done and for being the voice for those who cannot speak. What she said was as sweet as the picture we see here.

Towards The Future

The famous Aspinall family and their internationally acclaimed foundations are the reason why the animals who are about to face extinction still live up to this day. They save animal lives every day through their animal conservation charity. We honor their hard work and the efforts that they put in to save the animals.