A passionate animal specialist is hoping to get a zoo licence to secure the long-term future of a birds of prey centre at a family attraction.
Charlotte Davis-Whytock, who leads the Kent Owl Academy at Kent Life in Maidstone, began volunteering at the site as a teenager in 2016.
Her background includes working with livestock and horses, but she also developed a deep interest in exotic animals such as reptiles and amphibians.
As part of a conservation project in Madagascar, she studied unique species ranging from insects and birds to amphibians and mammals – even stepping out of her comfort zone to study marine life.
“I loved it so much that I became a qualified scuba diver,” she said.
In 2022, after years of training under the centre’s original founders Mollie and Nigel King, she took over as director of the owl academy.
Charlotte now leads a team caring for owls, hawks and a growing group of meerkats, which recently welcomed four new babies.
“The animals are my life,” she said.
“Working with them is a pleasure. I feel honoured to have them by my side day to day.
“I also want to inspire more young people to work in this industry and show them the beauty of it.”
To legally continue operations, Charlotte is now applying for a zoo licence, a requirement under national law for centres that keep wild animals and open to the public for more than seven days a year.
The licence would allow the Kent Owl Academy to continue running under national animal welfare regulations, help raise standards in falconry, promote ethical bird of prey keeping, and expand education and conservation opportunities.
The site already offers educational talks, zookeeper days, wildlife shows and school visits, both on-site and in local schools.
“We’re not planning major changes,” said Charlotte.
“We’re applying for the licence with the animals we already have. It’s about making our work more secure and recognised.”
The centre receives no external funding. It relies on bookings for experience days, school workshops and donations to cover running costs, which Charlotte says are often higher than the income.
She admits there have been moments of doubt.
“At times it is very difficult to get through.
“But I have an amazing team and work with amazing animals who remind me why I’m doing this.”
Staff and volunteers are regularly trained, and the centre works with a specialist vet.
Record keeping and daily health checks are part of the standard routine.
Alongside her conservation work, Charlotte hopes the licence will also help revive Maidstone’s long-standing link with wildlife.
The town was once home to Maidstone Zoo, which opened on March 29, 1934, under the guidance of Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt‑Drake, then a multiple-term Mayor of Maidstone.
“I know some of the methods used back then wouldn’t be considered ethical today,” Charlotte said.
“That part of the legacy needs to change.
“I want to show the people of Maidstone it’s possible to run a wildlife centre responsibly, with animal welfare at the heart.”
The Cobtree Charity Trust, which now oversees Cobtree Manor Park, the former zoo site, recently celebrated its 70th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, the current mayor, Simon Wales, unveiled a new elephant sculpture in the grounds to honour the town’s wildlife heritage.
