It's a very nice shot, of a very nice taxon but as I have seen the species at Hamerton on a few occasions, and at closer range to this, it doesn't provoke the reaction that I suspect you hoped for
I'm a regular at Hamerton and used to see the oncilla on most visits whilst they were kept near the jaguarundi, in the place where the Rock Cavy now lives. I nearly always visit on quiet days - not weekends or holidays - and would walk up to the area slowly and quietly. I was rewarded most times, but never got a really good picture because of the intrusive wire netting. Then a year ago I bought a new camera - and they moved the oncilla off-show.
This I was told was temporary and there would soon be public access to its new home - which has glass frontage making for better photo opportunities. But a year on it is still inaccessible due to building work in progress - partly the new Canada Lynx enclosure. This is now complete and the happy couple installed, but the work near the oncillas is still unfinished - and was in exactly the same state on my visit last week as it had been three weeks earlier, with the same roll of wire netting lying in the same place! The nearest you can get is indeed by the Tayras and you need a telephoto.
I hope they finish soon, but I'm beginning to lose hope - on every visit for the last few months I have hoped in vain. Still love the place and keep going, though.
Things may be moving on slowly, but they *are* moving along so don't lose hope, Ailouros! After all, this area will also display the Rusty-spotted Cats which have been offshow at Hamerton for a lot, lot longer - this is worth waiting a little longer for, methinks! Certainly I am given to understand that things have come along a lot further than they had on my last visit in April 2014 - the Tayra are onshow now, for a start.
I had heard about the rusty-spotted cats but others had told me it was a myth. If it is not I very much look forward to seeing them.
What worries me is that Hamerton may be short of money - developments always seem to take much longer than they tell me they will - for example I was originally told that the Canada Lynx compound was to be ready by August last year in time for the school holidays - it was finally completed a couple of weeks ago. Just outside near the entrance there are the foundations of two buildings which have remained unchanged for at least the last year, suggesting work was started but finance failed. Then there is the uncompleted work near the oncillas, where on my recent visit I saw that absolutely nothing had been done for several weeks.
If they are in difficulties I trust they have friends wealthier than an old guy on Pension Credit!
I believe if you go back to 2011 on the collection Facebook page there is actually an announcement about the arrival of the rusties and I know they were certainly still in the collection as of late last year - the plan has always been for them to go on-display in the new small carnivore complex which is now nearing completion.
