Any impressions of Port Lympne with the changed/revised organisation? Did you think it was better or worse or no different? Any impressions here or in the UK Forum would be welcome.
Indeed, I hope they'll start improving the enclosures for their splendid cat collection soon. The rusty chicken wire (which probably dates since the 1970s) is all but an eye candy.
This Pallas Cat enclosure is completely different to the Howletts ones which are heavily vegetated/planted with bamboo etc. This one is 'open' perhaps to more closely resemble the species' ' open steppe' habitat.
Thank you for posting this - I have been wanting to know what it looks like. For some reason (based on the wording in their press release), I had pictured it as being all indoors instead of open air like this.
This exhibit is much different from the other small cat enclosures at Port Lympne, so does this mark the beginning of a new style of exhibitry at the zoo? Will the chicken wire finally be dumped or is it a one-off occasion?
This exhibit is much different from the other small cat enclosures at Port Lympne, so does this mark the beginning of a new style of exhibitry at the zoo? Will the chicken wire finally be dumped or is it a one-off occasion?
I sure hope it means a new start of exhibitry; for despite the very interesting cat collection, the enclosures themselves are incredibly ugly, I wouldn't be too surprised if the chicken wire dated from the 1970s opening.
However, Pallas' Cats are steppe animals and reasonably docile so they can be kept like this. Other cats would have to be kept behind glass, but anything would be better than the rusty, old chicken wire.
A lot smaller and a lot less rocky; I saw both last month. But Port Lympne's exhibit was probably cheap as chips, while I have the feeling that Twycross paid way too much for their Snow Leopard exhibit.
