THE animals at Howletts are about to become stars of the small screen.

They are being featured in a major new television series, which hits the airwaves next month.

Roar is a children’s documentary being filmed at Howletts and its sister park, Port Lympne. The series, which starts on September 4, informs young viewers about the world’s most endangered species.

Shown daily at 7.30am, it will also give a unique insight into the daily dramas and dangers facing animal keepers and vets.

Aimed at seven to 14-year-olds, the series has been created by the same production company responsible for the hugely successful Animal Park, which is filmed at Longleat and is now in its seventh series.

The presenters of Roar are newcomers Matthew Skilton and Alex Dolan, who come face to face with monkeys, tigers, rhinos, snakes and creepy crawlies.

Television camera crews have been working at Howletts and Port Lympne since February to film all the behind-the-scenes action at the two parks.

The parks’ managing director Bob O’Connor said: "This really is fantastic for us. It’s a great opportunity to tell the rest of the world about the wonderful things we are achieving."

There are 40 hour-long episodes in the series. The show’s executive producer Chris Powell said: "We love the parks, the characters that work within them and the diversity of the species that they house. Once we had been to Kent there was nowhere else to look."