Leopard and Goat Farm Private Collection in Cornwall

[Mouse1980]

If he's struggling with the feeding costs of the animals, I don't think he's going to invest money into a bay cat at the moment. So for now, extremely slim chances.

Considering they posted that they were struggling with funds to feed animals back in the spring but they've subsequently acquired Sun Bears, Brown Hyenas, Ratels, these new Marbled Cats and probably a few in between I've forgotten I'd take those money worries with a pinch of salt tbh! They're clearly able to afford to regularly add to the collection.

 

[Mouse1980]

I don't think money is necessarily the issue. The issue is there are no bay cats in captivity (at least not known and legally held) and it would be nearly impossible to acquire one legally.

Given the track record for obtaining things nobody else (or very few) seem to have in captivity I wouldn't worry about it. They're obviously able to circumvent usual channels somehow. How? Is none of my business!

 

[TNT]

Considering they posted that they were struggling with funds to feed animals back in the spring but they've subsequently acquired Sun Bears, Brown Hyenas, Ratels, these new Marbled Cats and probably a few in between I've forgotten I'd take those money worries with a pinch of salt tbh! They're clearly able to afford to regularly add to the collection.

It might be worth considering that animals aren't always posted upon their arrival, so many could have been welcomed to the collection before lockdown, Furthermore, the preparation and organisation of animal moves takes months, even years. So even if animals had been purchased, the money may have been spent well before the pandemic.

 

[Mouse1980]

It might be worth considering that animals aren't always posted upon their arrival, so many could have been welcomed to the collection before lockdown, Furthermore, the preparation and organisation of animal moves take months, even years. So even if animals had been purchased, the money may have been spent well before the pandemic.

Very good points! Cheers for that

 

[PossumRoach]

It might be worth considering that animals aren't always posted upon their arrival, so many could have been welcomed to the collection before lockdown, Furthermore, the preparation and organisation of animal moves takes months, even years. So even if animals had been purchased, the money may have been spent well before the pandemic.

That is true. However preparation does require money just as much as importing and feeding. Even if Mr. Dalton doesn’t import new stock he still breeds his animals (i.e. his bush dogs which were born in fall) which still adds new mouths to feed.

 

[ZooBinh]

It might be worth considering that animals aren't always posted upon their arrival, so many could have been welcomed to the collection before lockdown, Furthermore, the preparation and organisation of animal moves takes months, even years. So even if animals had been purchased, the money may have been spent well before the pandemic.

You could also consider the fact that he does own his own shop in Fowey, where he sells a quite interesting and good-looking arrangement of confections. I'd assume the money made from that venture definitely helps and would slightly repel the negative effects of losing money during this pandemic.

 

[dublinlion]

It costs a lot less to feed and house well, a private zoo than any of the large open to the public zoos which have major wage, pension and insurance etc. costs. When Dublin zoo were appealing for public donations they stated that it cost half a million per month to 'keep' the animals and I doubt more than 10 per cent of this sum was for feeding. All of the animals in Todd's collection are medium to small species, so I imagine the housing and feeding costs would be small compared to e.g. Elephant or Giraffe.
It sounds like an amazing place and a zoo fanatics dream and I would love to visit.

 

[pipaluk]

You could also consider the fact that he does own his own shop in Fowey, where he sells a quite interesting and good-looking arrangement of confections. I'd assume the money made from that venture definitely helps and would slightly repel the negative effects of losing money during this pandemic.

To be fair, maybe the shop hasn't made as much as it would normally?

 

[pangolin12]

To be fair, maybe the shop hasn't made as much as it would normally?

I’d guess that the online shop has been somewhat beneficial with all the instagram advertising for it however I’m not positive on that front.

 

[Andrew Swales]

Considering they posted that they were struggling with funds to feed animals back in the spring but they've subsequently acquired Sun Bears, Brown Hyenas, Ratels, these new Marbled Cats and probably a few in between I've forgotten I'd take those money worries with a pinch of salt tbh! They're clearly able to afford to regularly add to the collection.

Is this any different to say Twycross claiming that their animals lives are in danger one moment and then spending millions on enclosures the next?
If you can 'play' the media this way and are bullish enough to do so, then go for it. It is a talent some of us find difficult to master... and sometimes a little envious of...

 

[ZooBinh]

To be fair, maybe the shop hasn't made as much as it would normally?

If I recall correctly it did open during the pandemic? July or some time then, but considering that fact then we wouldn't know how much they'd make without a pandemic, but like you said the sales now would probably be less than what is made in "normal" times.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

From 1983 to 1993 more or less. A little translation of the informations given on ZTL :
"When the Felis Phoenix facility (Italy) was closed down, the owner went to Howletts as curator together with part of his stock.
Thus, in 1982, 1.0 P. marmorata came to Howletts, while the remaining 1.1 animals went into private keeping. In 1985 the female (by now mother of the first marbled cats born in Europe!) came to Howletts.
In addition, 0.1 (1984) and 1.0 (1986) came from Los Angeles.
However, there was no breeding success!
One of the animals went to La Torbiera, Italy, on 10.05.1993. Whether it was the last animal from Howletts is unclear."

Excellent stuff @Rayane thanks for the translation !

I don't know the exact dates but marbled cats were kept at Howletts in the 1980s and into the early 1990s. I never saw them on display but I was once fortunate enough to be taken "behind the scenes" to see an off-exhibit individual.

The species was also held London Zoo, long ago, and according to ZooTiereList, at Bristol Zoo too.

Do you remember where abouts in the park (what enclosure) this individual was held @Tim May ?

 

[Tim May]

Do you remember where abouts in the park (what enclosure) this individual was held @Tim May ?

The marbled cat I saw was in an off-exhibit enclosure behind the tigers.

 

[R E Pennell]

Just by way of information when/if this collection has some open days then the best way to reach it without a car is to get the train either to Lostwithiel or Par and get a taxi from there (book the taxi in advance as they are not plentiful in the area & you're unlikely to be able to just jump in one off a train!).
From Lostwithiel it is less than 10 minutes, just off the road to Fowey and although I haven't done the journey from Par it wouldn't take much longer. The only call-out being not every train stops at Lostwithiel but they do all stop at Par. Trains are every 30 minutes during the day but significantly less frequent in an evening.
Considering the number of species listed it isn't a big site at all - if you know where to look you can see it off the train between Lostwithiel and Par on your left travelling south

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I don't know the exact dates but marbled cats were kept at Howletts in the 1980s and into the early 1990s. I never saw them on display but I was once fortunate enough to be taken "behind the scenes" to see an off-exhibit individual.

The species was also held London Zoo, long ago, and according to ZooTiereList, at Bristol Zoo too.

The marbled cat I saw was in an off-exhibit enclosure behind the tigers.

Thanks for that @Tim May ! Much appreciated !

 

[twilighter]

Just by way of information when/if this collection has some open days then the best way to reach it without a car is to get the train either to Lostwithiel or Par and get a taxi from there (book the taxi in advance as they are not plentiful in the area & you're unlikely to be able to just jump in one off a train!).
From Lostwithiel it is less than 10 minutes, just off the road to Fowey and although I haven't done the journey from Par it wouldn't take much longer. The only call-out being not every train stops at Lostwithiel but they do all stop at Par. Trains are every 30 minutes during the day but significantly less frequent in an evening.
Considering the number of species listed it isn't a big site at all - if you know where to look you can see it off the train between Lostwithiel and Par on your left travelling south

Welcome to ZooChat @R E Pennell and thank you for the info!

 

[Pertinax]

Is this any different to say Twycross claiming that their animals lives are in danger one moment and then spending millions on enclosures the next?
If you can 'play' the media this way and are bullish enough to do so, then go for it. It is a talent some of us find difficult to master... and sometimes a little envious of...

I saw Twycross's new Tiger enclosure and Elephant house 'conversion' well before the pandemic, so the expenditure came before the 'in danger' publicity. But IMO that claim was unprofessional and largely a distortion of the truth.

 

[Mouse1980]

You could also consider the fact that he does own his own shop in Fowey, where he sells a quite interesting and good-looking arrangement of confections. I'd assume the money made from that venture definitely helps and would slightly repel the negative effects of losing money during this pandemic.

Is the shop open though? I'm assuming not (due to lockdown) hence they started selling the (admittedly very tasty looking) confections online recently?

 

[Mouse1980]

Just by way of information when/if this collection has some open days then the best way to reach it without a car is to get the train either to Lostwithiel or Par and get a taxi from there (book the taxi in advance as they are not plentiful in the area & you're unlikely to be able to just jump in one off a train!).
From Lostwithiel it is less than 10 minutes, just off the road to Fowey and although I haven't done the journey from Par it wouldn't take much longer. The only call-out being not every train stops at Lostwithiel but they do all stop at Par. Trains are every 30 minutes during the day but significantly less frequent in an evening.
Considering the number of species listed it isn't a big site at all - if you know where to look you can see it off the train between Lostwithiel and Par on your left travelling south

Nice to know it's visible from the train! You can't sneak a peak from the road (I've tried) Now I just need an excuse to get the train!

 

[PossumRoach]

Is this any different to say Twycross claiming that their animals lives are in danger one moment and then spending millions on enclosures the next?
If you can 'play' the media this way and are bullish enough to do so, then go for it. It is a talent some of us find difficult to master... and sometimes a little envious of...

I think a better analogy would be when Kobe animal kingdom and its sister location both had a fundraiser after the lockdown in order to raise funds for new enclosures and some of their conservation projects.