CROCODILE Hunter Steve Irwin flew in from Australia for a world first in conservation and two days filming at Howletts and Port Lympne wild animal parks.

Although Steve is a familiar sight on our TV screens, visitors to the wild animal parks were a little bewildered to see him in the flesh.

The star and his production visit timed their visit to coincide with the departure of seven captive-born gorillas from Howletts to Gabon in Africa.

He said: "Myself and my wife have been great fans of the late John Aspinall since we first heard of him and have followed the groundbreaking work of the parks.

"It's at forefront of the zoological industry and so important that the world sees what it does.

"Every zoological facility would like to say it's doing great things for conservation but don't have the money or experts to pull something like this off.

"It's a mammoth task to actually breed and rear these gorillas and manage an area of natural habitat that they can be released into.

"That's a massive task and that they've done that is just amazing. It's one of the most significant conservation projects and messages in the world."

Steve and his film crew hope to catch up with the gorillas in their new home on the Bateke Plateau National Park later in the year.

The programme made on this visit is expected to be on TV around February or March.