United Kingdom Philip Wayre, 26/5/21 - 29/6/14

[TeaLovingDave]

Surprisingly there were three Temminck`s Golden Cats at the park in 1977.
In the 1979 guidebook it states under "Golden Cat" - "Breeds in the park"!!

This requires further investigation I believe, as currently I have heard of no UK breeding records for this species!

 

[Tim Brown]

Sad news of course,and his contribution was an important one without a doubt.However, I met him around 7 years ago and he had become faintly anti-zoo.I don't wish to speak ill of the dead, especially one who did so much for wildlife,and it could be that bad experiences had tainted his memories, but he didn't have too positive a view of much of the zoo world.Mind you, Gerald Durrell used to say similar things.

 

[Nanook]

This requires further investigation I believe, as currently I have heard of no UK breeding records for this species!

Indeed, I was also surprised to read that, either they did breed and possibly did not survive ? Or it was a line just tagged on at the end, as is sometimes the case in these guide books talking generally ?

In 1977 they did have three and they were the only ones in the UK at that time.

If you do a search on Pathe News Website for Norfolk Wildlife Park there is some nice footage of the park in the early days.

 

[Tim Brown]

Through 77,78,79,80,there is no mention of Golden Cats breeding at Great Witchingham in the Int.Zoo Yearbook census,to which the zoo reported its breedings quite fully - so I think unlikely,perhaps a D.N.S. at best.

 

[Shorts]

Incidentally going back to Kilverstone`s Olingos someone mentioned , they had Allen`s Olingo and Bushy-tailed Olingos, the former produced a UK first breeding in May 1983, and the Bushys produced a UK first breeding in Sept 1982. Kilverstone was the only collection holding both species in the UK at the time.

Has anywhere else in the UK ever held both species simultaneously?

I can't imagine there's much competition for this accolade.

 

[Tim Brown]

I was fortunate to visit the NWP several times through the 1970's into the early 1980's . I remember the small group of Alpine ibex in their paddock at the far end ; wolverines in an open enclosure which would probably now be considered far too small ; the large open-top Lynx enclosure with its raised viewing platform , very innovative then ; the Iberian wolf in their wooded enclosure . The walk-through aviary held a collection of small passerines which bred well with surplus young being released .

I have three Guide books dated 1972 , an updated version form 1977 and a larger new one from the 1980's . All give a lot of information and detailed maps . The Pheasant Trust was founded in 1960 and a good number of species were exhibited , though they had gone by the time of the later Guide book . Species listed for the Tropical Pheasant pens - Malay great argus , Siamese fireback , Sonnerat's junglefowl , Palawan peacock pheasant , greater Bornean crested fireback , Bornean great argus , grey peacock pheasant , white-eared pheasant .

A list of notable breedings is in the later book - wheatear 1965 , stone curlew 1969 , common scops owl 1973 , roe deer 1976 , Cabot's tragopan 1976 , mountain hare 1981 , ringed plover 1982 , Iberian wolf 1983 . There was also a couple of Asian golden cats in the late 1970's .

Some species mentioned as being in the Park - European suslik , booted eagle , beech marten , a Nocturnal house with genets , porcupines , mongooses , hedgehogs , weasels , small rodents .

Ive just noticed BORNEAN Great Argus...Ive checked the guide and yes,it does say that.Almost don't believe it,a great avicultural rarity,but they do differentiate between that and the Malay taxon.

 

[Nanook]

Through 77,78,79,80,there is no mention of Golden Cats breeding at Great Witchingham in the Int.Zoo Yearbook census,to which the zoo reported its breedings quite fully - so I think unlikely,perhaps a D.N.S. at best.

Thanks Tim, it is an odd one. As you say surely if they had bred, and survived, the breeding would have been recorded as a UK first, as so many others at the park and in the IZYbks. So either they bred but the off-spring did not survive, but it was not properly recorded because of that or it was just an added line in the guidebook by mistake perhaps? It is in the 1979, 7th edition of the guide to the left of the large Lynx photo, listed under number 17, for anyone with that one who wants to look.

 

[Nanook]

Ive just noticed BORNEAN Great Argus...Ive checked the guide and yes,it does say that.Almost don't believe it,a great avicultural rarity,but they do differentiate between that and the Malay taxon.

Yes the only ones in the UK at that time.

 

[Tim Brown]

Perhaps the only ones EVER,Zootierliste lists London..well not up to 1927,does anyone know of any there since then?

 

[Tim May]

Perhaps the only ones EVER,Zootierliste lists London..well not up to 1927,does anyone know of any there since then?

The ZSL Annual Report for 1959 lists London Zoo as receiving three Bornean argus pheasants that year.

 

[bongorob]

The Pheasant Trust held the only Western Tragopan in Europe for several years. She laid annually and produced at least one hybrid with, I believe, a male Temminck's.
Norfolk Wildlife Park was where I first saw Alpine Choughs, Azure-winged Magpies, Beech Martens, and a whole host of other species. A truly inspirational place in its prime.

a female Temmick's x Western Tragopan was reard at the park in 1977.
I am wndering if I saw Western tragopan, I visited in 1973, but do not rremember much about the place.

They bred many Cabot's Trgopans in the early 1970s.

 

[Tim Brown]

The ZSL Annual Report for 1959 lists London Zoo as receiving three Bornean argus pheasants that year.

Mystery solved then,as is Zootierlistes reputation.From one Tim to another,thanks Tim.
Off subject.. are you going to Zoohistorica?

 

[Tim May]

Mystery solved then,as is Zootierlistes reputation.From one Tim to another,thanks Tim.
Off subject.. are you going to Zoohistorica?

Indeed, I am attending ZooHistorica; it is unusual for me to miss it. I'll see you in Cologne....

 

[Nanook]

Regarding the Temminck`s Golden Cats - a pair (1.1) were bought from Norfolk Wildlife Park in March 1982 by the Cat Survival Trust at the Marlind Centre. They actually used some of their "building fund" to pay for them at short notice. The male was aged 3 years old and had originally come from Rotterdam Zoo, the female was 5 years old and had originally come from Denmark. This pair were said to be the only ones in the UK at that time.
(I have no idea what happened to the third animal that they had in 1977).

So they obviously arrived at Norfolk as very young cats or, judging by the years between 77 and 82, and their young ages in 82, that the two that went to The Cat Survival Trust were perhaps not the same animals that were there in 77 ?? (Just when you think you have sorted it out! )