I went to RSCC yesterday. As Crowthorne said, the staff were friendly and helpful and there were various talks throughout the afternoon, including a keeper throwing treats to the maned wolves.
The small area near the entrance contained most of the unusual species and seemed a bit cramped, but the newer areas had a lot of unused space and I wonder what this could have been used for if the centre had stayed open.
Quite a few animals were off show, such as the tarsiers and spotted cuscus and several enclosures were empty, despite having notices, so I wondered if how many other enclosures were also devoid of animals, despite lush vegetation. Some of the signposts were confusing. I followed the New Guinea signs, but I didn't find a specific outside area, although there were a few new Guinea mammals inside the small area near the entrance.
Some of the animals were very active, including the fossa, echidna, red ruffed lemur, Dorcopsis wallaby, ring-tailed vontsira and narrow-striped boky. The Indochinese smooth-coated and giant otters spent some time in the water; it was a change to see otters that weren't Asiatic short-clawed otters. It was also nice to see the Andean cock-of-the-rock, which was the only non-mammal species on show. The clouded leopard and Malayan tiger were fairly inactive.
The animal I liked seeing most was the white-striped dorcopsis. It was the first time that I'd seen a dorcopsis wallaby since I visited Taronga Zoo. Quite a few other people liked seeing the wallaby.
The most entertaining conversation was between a child and adult. The child said a fossa could fly. "Are you sure it can fly?" "Yes." "Has it got wings?" "Yes".
The best information notice concerned the Owston's palm civet, although I didn't see the animal itself. One visitor noticed the information about coffee being made from civet droppings and said that the civet made coffee. Another was amused that the coffee tasted of chocolate.
Some of the deceased zoo animals appeared as stuffed animals and skeletons near the entrance. These included tarsiers and a sand cat. My friend was surprised that an antelope skull was propped up against an enclosure and wasn't firmly attached.
I think it is very sad that RSCC is closing tomorrow, but I wonder about the lack of signage outside the zoo. To reach the zoo by foot involves walking along Dover Road, which later turns into a path that opens up onto a busy roundabout, from where the RSCC is obvious. I couldn't see any signposts pointing from the town centre, even near a notice saying, "Don't feed the walrus".
There will still be some animals kept at RSCC for some time, but it seems that other zoos will be taking various species. I wish the staff well in future employment.
The small area near the entrance contained most of the unusual species and seemed a bit cramped, but the newer areas had a lot of unused space and I wonder what this could have been used for if the centre had stayed open.
Quite a few animals were off show, such as the tarsiers and spotted cuscus and several enclosures were empty, despite having notices, so I wondered if how many other enclosures were also devoid of animals, despite lush vegetation. Some of the signposts were confusing. I followed the New Guinea signs, but I didn't find a specific outside area, although there were a few new Guinea mammals inside the small area near the entrance.
Some of the animals were very active, including the fossa, echidna, red ruffed lemur, Dorcopsis wallaby, ring-tailed vontsira and narrow-striped boky. The Indochinese smooth-coated and giant otters spent some time in the water; it was a change to see otters that weren't Asiatic short-clawed otters. It was also nice to see the Andean cock-of-the-rock, which was the only non-mammal species on show. The clouded leopard and Malayan tiger were fairly inactive.
The animal I liked seeing most was the white-striped dorcopsis. It was the first time that I'd seen a dorcopsis wallaby since I visited Taronga Zoo. Quite a few other people liked seeing the wallaby.
The most entertaining conversation was between a child and adult. The child said a fossa could fly. "Are you sure it can fly?" "Yes." "Has it got wings?" "Yes".
The best information notice concerned the Owston's palm civet, although I didn't see the animal itself. One visitor noticed the information about coffee being made from civet droppings and said that the civet made coffee. Another was amused that the coffee tasted of chocolate.
Some of the deceased zoo animals appeared as stuffed animals and skeletons near the entrance. These included tarsiers and a sand cat. My friend was surprised that an antelope skull was propped up against an enclosure and wasn't firmly attached.
I think it is very sad that RSCC is closing tomorrow, but I wonder about the lack of signage outside the zoo. To reach the zoo by foot involves walking along Dover Road, which later turns into a path that opens up onto a busy roundabout, from where the RSCC is obvious. I couldn't see any signposts pointing from the town centre, even near a notice saying, "Don't feed the walrus".
There will still be some animals kept at RSCC for some time, but it seems that other zoos will be taking various species. I wish the staff well in future employment.
