I noticed, and I just don't get it! So what if you don't like the rock work, so what if you think it should be bigger in general! I wish people would stop speculating and then slating the place on the basis of speculation!! As someone said on another thread they don't have a spare £10 million because they're a charity!
I find there are certain collections which just push peoples buttons so to speak both for and against. This appears to be one of those. This collection appears to be neither as horrible as its critics say, nor as wonderful as its supporters think. Every zoo has its flaws. Certain people are very emphatic about pointing those out and that's fine. But turning a blind eye to those flaws is every bit the same.
That is the case with private collections and shops too! But it seems that a lot of assumptions are being made and then the place criticised because of these assumptions. I know the place is not perfect, but then nowhere is. I'm sure there are many things the owner would change but as I've said a million times already they're a charity, so funds are limited. They do the best they can with the resources they have.
That is the case with private collections and shops too! But it seems that a lot of assumptions are being made and then the place criticised because of these assumptions. I know the place is not perfect, but then nowhere is. I'm sure there are many things the owner would change but as I've said a million times already they're a charity, so funds are limited. They do the best they can with the resources they have.
If funds are so limited, why expend considerable amounts on importing wild aardwolves, a species that is not part of any cooperative breeding program and is not especially rare in nature (low population density, but this has always been the case)? It appears this zoo is run by a classic "collector" who is attempting to justify his/her hobby by sticking "Conservation" in the name of the place.
Not at all, apparently there are plans for a captive breeding programe. There is 4 now I believe, so it's not just the one 'useless' (if there is any such thing) animal.
Surely if it was the case that the owner was simply collecting, he would live closer to the zoo? What's the point living 2 hours away from a collection which you see only on a weekend?
How do you know he's spent lots on exporting/importing? Maybe it's not a lone venture?
Would that be EAZA plans for a captive aardwolf breeding programme?
Are the other 3 Aardwolves also wild-caught?
Are any funds being diverted to help the species in situ?
What are the conservation needs of aardwolves? I was under the impression they were classed as 'Least Concern'. Why then do we need a breeding programme so much that some are being trapped in the wild for export to the UK?
PUMAS - so you are saying its a choice between darting them to move them to their day enclosure and walking them through a public area? I would say the RSCC aren't ready for Pumas if that is the only option other than darting them. Especially if a clouded leopard has to rotate with them. Didn't the female clouded leopard get killed? What happened to the cubs?
And those 'area specific trees', are expensive. Are they as necessary as you say?
Don't think the cloudies bred, and the death of the female was apparently a shock. I don't think this place is strapped for cash at all, I get the impression that the owner has no trouble in that area lol.
Would that be EAZA plans for a captive aardwolf breeding programme?
Are the other 3 Aardwolves also wild-caught?
Are any funds being diverted to help the species in situ?
What are the conservation needs of aardwolves? I was under the impression they were classed as 'Least Concern'. Why then do we need a breeding programme so much that some are being trapped in the wild for export to the UK?
PUMAS - so you are saying its a choice between darting them to move them to their day enclosure and walking them through a public area? I would say the RSCC aren't ready for Pumas if that is the only option other than darting them. Especially if a clouded leopard has to rotate with them. Didn't the female clouded leopard get killed? What happened to the cubs?
And those 'area specific trees', are expensive. Are they as necessary as you say?
As I said I don't know the owner so I can't answer most of the questions as fully as I would like, but those I can answer, conservation status of Aardwolves is least concern, I think the others are wild caught and they came from a rescue centre as did the original one, so they are NOT being trapped for export to the UK. The point of having a breeding programe when they're of least concern? Well, I'm not involved with EAZA or BIAZA but surley a captive breeding programe is better than constantly taking them from the wild (as that is what you seem to think happened)??
I have no idea whether money is being sent (raised) to help the species in situ, but I would suspect it is as I know money is being sent (raised) for the conservation of Sun Bears (which were also imported to the UK), I will make the point of asking next time I'm there.
Walking two tame (hand reared) Pumas across a not very busy zoo is no different (and in fact no where near as bad) as the wolf man down in Devon walking his wolves around Exmoor zoo. Incidentally, wolf man walks his wolves around the streets of Ilfracombe but that's a whole different story! The Pumas are actually smaller than my dogs!
Clouded Leopards are 'strictly nocturnal' so why leave a pen empty during the daytime when you could put some very cute Pumas in there? Seems a bit daft to me to have an empty pen, especially when people are paying to come and see animals! So why have nocturnal species I hear you ask? Well maybe that's because it's MORE about the animals than you think, and the zoo is only open in order to raise money to function and for conservation?
Yes the female Clouded was killed, there were no pups as she was killed during mating, which I believe is a very common problem due to the length of the canines "clouded leopards have proportionately the longest (canines) of any feline. These are stabbing teeth, and they are used to deliver a fatal bite to prey."
Area specific trees, are they necessary? Well, reading through the boards I've noticed 'it's not very authentic' about a million and one times, so apparently it is necessary! The zoo HAS to be a pleasant experience from all aspects, walking around a zoo that is just concrete would not be appealing. The zoo is about the animals BUT it HAS to make money in order to continue operating, and to continue sending money to conservation projects they are involved with.
Don't think the cloudies bred, and the death of the female was apparently a shock. I don't think this place is strapped for cash at all, I get the impression that the owner has no trouble in that area lol.
You get the impression do you? Have you asked the owner or are you simply speculating? IF money wasn't an issue don't you think the zoo would have expanded by now?
