Evening all, just got back from the RSCC but more on that later. First a few more replies. Also, I only have a limited amount of time on the hotel's internet connection, but I will try and start downloading some photos this evening so watch out for them.
Kiang, the Palawan binturong are at the RSCC, locked in on the day I went as they were putting net on the (ridiculously small) cage's roof.
The two Binturong were out today, the cage is too small for such large animals and the mesh is very difficult to photograph through (I did try) however they do at least have some climbing oppurtunities.
Thanks for the review! Great to know you enjoyed the day, despite the unruly weather today (or was it dryer in Kent?) and sorry to hear you weren't able to see the hyeanas. Talking about the African Experience, Marwell says they may have a safari vehicle tour in their African Valley sometime in the future; however it's only half the size and not nearly enough planting to give the true savannah feel, so I'll look forward to it even more when I (hopefully) visit in half-term!
Thankfully, Kent was one of the few places in the UK to have good weather yesterday, hence the decision to go to PL as it would have been utterly miserable on a wet day.
Yes, the African Experience truly does feel like Africa (and I have been on a safari). I took lots of pictures which I may upload this evening which could almost have been taken in Africa. The only problem was that you almost always drive along the fence-line which seemed unnecessary in such a large area.
The moloch or silvery gibbons is a ex situ captive-breeding operation at both PL and Howletts Zoos. It has an in situ component as JAF is heavily involved with the Schmutzer Primate Center in Jakarta, Indonesia and in situ conservation activities in a rescue facility and protected areas on Java.
What I would like to know concerns the new immigrants from Jakarta Zoo that have been absorbed into the collections by JAF. I would appreciate any information on pairings and recent breedings at both facilities.
Hope that helps you out answering my queries.
K.B.
Thanks that clears it up for me, I will try and find a primate keeper at Howletts tomorrow who I can ask for you. Regarding the Molochs at PL, there were four there (sorry, don't know genders) which I will upload some photos of.
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I feel that I should now say a little about the RSCC as it has been heavily criticized by some on zoochat (most of whom have only seen photos). Personally, I was expecting very little but this place really suprised me.
Firstly, this zoo really is small and could be much improved with a little more space. However, what they have done, I believe they have done relatively well.
Having entered the centre, you start by going through "New Guinea", a small tropical hall with only one species which actually comes from the island, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon. The enclosure for the Jaguarundi is reasonably small although, if you add the two joined cages together, they are not too bad. Also, the Emperor Tamarins could certainly do with more space. This area would benefit from more foliage and free-flying birds as well as less netting.
Upon leaving the building, there is, to your right, a small aviary-style enclosure for Fishing Cat which has nowhere near enough foliage and hiding places and pales in comparison to the ones I at at PL yesterday. Ahead is the flamingo pool which is not too small, but has too few flamingos and too small a land area.
Here, we took a left and entered the "Indo-China" section of the zoo, home to the majority of the collection. Most of this area is viewed from a boardwalk which works quite well as the majority of species are arboreal. On your left as you enter are the White-Cheeked Gibbons, this enclosure is nice but could be improved by a greater height and more climbing oppurtunities. On the left are the pair of Malayan Sun Bears, this enclosure is no where near as bad as some people have portrayed it and, although not massive, seems a reasonable size especially with all the climbing oppurtunities.
Here, the boardwalk forks, we took a left past the gibbon enclosure and into a raised shelter which looks over the infamous Clouded Leopard enclosure which actually only has a cloudy in at night and is now home to a pair of Puma during the day. This enclosure now has a lot more logs for climbing as well as more vegetation and I feel it to be of a reasonable size, certainly it does not deserve some of the criticism it has garnered on this site.
Leaving this viewing area and returning to the bears, you pass the UK's only New Guinea Singing Dogs. Their enclosure, however, is rather small and the dogs have very few places in which to hide from the public.
Round the corner, you come to the Binturong and Malayan Tapir enclosures. As I have said, the Binturong enclosure is much too small for the two inhabitants although they do, at least, have some climbing oppurtunities. To me, the Tapir enclosure was too small, and the pool not big enough. This view may, however, have something to do with the size of the Tapir enclosures which I saw yesterday at PL. Also in this area is a Civet which I did not see.
Leaving "Indo-China", we went into the "Madagascar" section. This basically consisted of two small lemur enclosures (one for Crowned Lemurs, one for Red-Ruffed) and two for Fossa, one of these enclosures was quite a good size whilst the other seemed a little small.
The final outdoor area which, according to the leaflet, will be called Snow Leopard Ridge was unfinished although the Snow Leopard enclosure appeared done and I got a picture of it, unfortunatly it did seem a little small for the pair it will contain. I saw one of these two on top of a rock at the back of the exhibit. There appears to be one other enclosure being constructed in this area although I am not sure what it is for.
Finally, we went back inside to another tropical house called "Amazonia" (again, with very few amazonian species). You enter this through a cave with some terrariums for herps and one for Slow Loris. Leaving this, you see the pair of Smooth-Coated Otters (which hardly stopped their squeeling the whole time that we were there) and an enclosure for Potto.
Also in this section, there are netted enclosures for Rhinoceros Hornbill, Ocelot, Gibbons, Toco Toucan and Sand Cat (?).
Overall, I was surprised by the centre and would probably give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. One of my main gripes is that it is so un-photogenic. Almost every enclosure has a net or bar barrier in the way so most of my photos are not particularly good (even worse than they would have been!).
Sorry that was so long but I wanted to give people a feel of the place and show them that it was not as bad as some (who mostly haven't visited the place) have been saying, in my opinion at least. It is suprisingly well themed, and most of the animals appeared healthy and active.
I will report back tomorrow on Howletts, hopefully with the answers to your questions.
Photos to come.
). The current itinerary is Howletts tomorrow, RSCC the day after and Port Lympne on Sunday (weather dependent).
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